SOCIAL SECRETARY’S REPORT – Mrs Kim Archer

SOCIAL SECRETARY’S REPORT

Mrs. Kim Archer

Social Committee: Garth Mitchell, Kane Thorburn & Col Turnell

Leading up to 2021, the Centenary year for the Association was extremely busy as we prepared for a full social calendar to celebrate 100 years of CBDRLRA. Intense planning for our Gala Centenary Dinner, venue, invitations, menus, accommodation packages, photographer, entertainment, room styling, and gifts was all very time consuming and of course with the pandemic the worry if the function could proceed at all!

I appreciated the support of my fellow Centenary Social Committee of Kane Thorburn and Adam Gee who were allotted various tasks. It would be remiss if I didn’t mention our President, my husband Paul who also worked long hours to contribute to the smooth organisation and conduct of the function.

The Gala Dinner was able to go ahead with numbers limited to 180 due to Covid restrictions and unfortunately no dancing was allowed. Several special guests were in attendance including members of the Board of both the Canterbury League (major sponsor) and Bulldogs Football Club and Junior Bulldogs, representatives from NSWRL, NSWRLRA, affiliated associations and NRL referees. A special mention to our sponsors who attended, Steve & Sara Dib (Soneta), Geoff & Micheline Dib (DeVel), Bruce & Lyn Pawley (Bankstown RSL) and Buddy & Nancy Semrani (Cleanrite).

The venue was the subject to much discussion prior to the event but I’m sure that I can speak from all who attended we could not have selected a more perfect location, pre-dinner drinks in the Rose Garden followed by the formal dinner in The Big Barn at the William Inglis Hotel, the venue was why we selected January for the dinner to make the most of the gardens. Following the dinner, drinks were in the Garden Pavilion, which was most enjoyable in particular to those dozen people who saw the commencement of trackwork at 3am, including our President (who hasn’t had a red since!).

22 CBDRLRA Inc. 100th Annual Report & Financial Statement – Season 2021

Once our season commenced, we conducted our regular Trot night at Menangle Park, attended by 40 people, a most enjoyable and popular annual function.

Our meeting on Sunday 6th June was scheduled to fall on the exact date in 1922 when the CBDRLRA was formed, guest speakers were NRL referees’ Ben Cummins and Gavin Badger (retired) who participated in a Q & A with our own former first grade referees in Col Turnell and Matt Hewitt. Following the meeting we provided finger food and drinks. Our new sponsor, Michael Sleiman who was attending his first function with us was so impressed with our meeting that he doubled his sponsorship for 2021, a great surprise and a wonderful gesture. I am confident that First National Daystar will be a longterm sponsor. On Sunday 13th June, we conducted our First National Daystar Blue & White Dinner, a great crowd with over 150 attendees, who dined, wined, and danced the night away! Due to our Centenary year we changed to the Paragon Room at the League Club and had some other additional changes to our regular function including a 100th Anniversary cake.

During the evening Life Membership was presented to Daniel Gardner and Nathan Loveday.

Both wonderful contributors to our Association, congratulations guys.

President Paul Archer also presented a framed CBDRLRA jersey and shorts to our wonderful sponsors Steve Dib (Soneta) and Geoff Dib (DeVel) for their ongoing support. The Dib family are terrific supporters and we have formed a strong friendship with the family. Thank you, Steve & Geoff.

Exactly 1 week following our Blue & White dinner the pandemic again was with us, all on and off field activity was cancelled. On the social front this meant our First National Daystar Life Members lunch scheduled for September and our Centenary BBQ was also off and our Training Camp was postponed.

Once lockdown was over, we commenced plans to recommence some social activities and in November we had a Pizza night at Moxon Road Club where we had a good roll up.

23 CBDRLRA Inc. 100th Annual Report & Financial Statement – Season 2021

Also, we were able to have a General Meeting night on December 1st where fingered food and drinks followed.

The BBQ which was renamed the First National Daystar Centenary BBQ was rescheduled for the Garden Pavilion at William Inglis Hotel in mid-January 2022 with 80 members and guests. Thanks to Mark Nicholls from the South Sydney Rabbitohs who was our Guest Speaker at late notice.

The Committee resolved that the Training Camp be now scheduled for the weekend of 4th – 6th February 2022, the Leo Randle Trust is covering the costs of the accommodation and the Association shall cover other costs in our appreciation of the support of our active members who have stayed the course over the past 2 most difficult years.

In conclusion, although our Centenary year was disrupted by the lockdowns due to the pandemic it was most rewarding that we were able to conduct important social functions to celebrate 100 years of history and achievement by our membership.

Thank you to both the General Committee and my Social Committee of Kane Thorburn, Col Turnell & Garth Mitchell, also to you the members whose attendance at our various functions make our efforts worthwhile.

I continue to enjoy contributing to our Association as your Social Secretary. Bring on year 101.

Kim Archer Social Secretary

24 CBDRLRA Inc. 100th Annual Report & Financial Statement – Season 2021