PRESIDENTS FOREWORD – Mr Paul Archer

PRESIDENT’S FOREWORD

Mr. Paul Archer

As an Association 2021 was both very rewarding and of course due to Covid very challenging. Let’s start with the positives from our Centenary year, our formal Gala Centenary dinner conducted in January was a wonderful event. I am confident that all attendees enjoyed the occasion and the venue at the William Inglis Hotel was first class.

Although due to the pandemic our numbers needed to be limited to 180 members and special guests it was a night which befitted our milestone of reaching the century. The following members contributed with speeches of a very high calibre: Adam Gee, Peter Longhurst, Nathan Fayad, Matthew Gomes and Bob Garwood. The entertainment was fantastic with the highlight being comedian Tahir who had us all in fits of laughter, and let’s not forget Barry Ruttle’s shirtless performance! In all, our Gala dinner was an event to be remembered and I would like to acknowledge the input of the Centenary Committee in particular, Kim Archer who put in long hours to ensure the event was successful. Also, the History Committee of David Abood, assisted by Daniel Gardner and Colin Turnell should be commended on producing a wonderful publication to record the 100 Years of CBRA history, well done!

Just prior to the commencement of the football season I was able to approach a prospective additional sponsor and following our sponsorship proposal and meeting with Michael Sleiman, First National Daystar Real Estate based in Revesby signed on for 2 years as naming sponsors for our two major functions and a new trophy for the Trainer of the Year.

First National Daystar join our wonderful family of sponsors, long term (25 years) major sponsor Canterbury League Club, Soneta Plumbing, DeVel Pty Ltd, Bankstown RSL and Club Menangle, on behalf of all members I express our sincere appreciation to our sponsors for your ongoing support, you have all contributed to the success of our Association and our Centenary celebrations. I

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am very pleased to advise that both DeVel and Bankstown RSL have renewed sponsorship for the 2022 and 2023 seasons.

Our next celebration for our Centenary year was the anniversary meeting held at the Canterbury League Club on Sunday 6th June, the exact date our Association was formed in 1922, an enjoyable event attended by 70 members and guests. One week later in the Paragon Room at Canterbury League Club we conducted our annual First National Daystar Blue and White dinner with 150 guests and the highlight being the presentation of Life Membership to Daniel Gardner and Nathan Loveday, both worthy recipients and inspirational speeches delivered by both.

So, we were most fortunate to have had 3 major functions to celebrate 100 years and then, Covid again put Sydney and eventually the state in lockdown, community football was suspended and eventually cancelled for 2021, with no finals football a bitter disappointment for our active members and participants. We conducted regular zoom ruling and development sessions on Sunday nights, and I thank Brad Zarb for his contribution with this activity. Due to the disrupted season the Committee made the difficult decision for the second year that several awards would not be presented.

The lockdown also meant no meetings and our scheduled final two major social events were cancelled being our First National Daystar Life Member’s Lunch and End of Centenary BBQ and the scheduled Training Camp was also postponed to February 2022.

Eventually, we were able to conduct a final meeting night at Canterbury League in December where we presented the Leo Randle Trophy to Life Member, Barry Belford and the First National Daystar Trainer of the Year trophy to Jack McIlvenny, congratulations to both worthy recipients.

Further, we rescheduled our final centenary celebration the First National Daystar Centenary BBQ for January 2022 with numbers limited to 80, a fantastic way to finalise Centenary celebrations, even if a little later than planned.

I would like to acknowledge the support from the Canterbury League Club Directors under the direction of President, Peter Winchester, and the support from the Football Club under the leadership of John Khoury and Aaron

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Warburton. To the Junior Bulldogs who also celebrated their Centenary in 2021 thank you for your partnership in assisting us to give the local district a safe and welcoming experience playing the greatest game of all.

Finally, to the NSWRL and NSWRLRA we appreciate both your financial and administrative support. However, we must all strive to attempt to improve the recruitment and retention of referee’s, an area which needs a concerted effort to get numbers increased which can only benefit all participants. We need action now not words but action.

To my fellow Committee members, thanks for your efforts. Secretary Daniel Gardner, whose passion and commitment to the welfare of the Association is first class. Daniel grows more comfortable in his vital role each season; we are in good hands with Daniel as our Secretary.

All Office Bearers contribute each season in particular Kane Thorburn who performs several tasks and no request is ever denied and to our hard-working Social Secretary, Kim Archer I see first-hand the amount of time and effort Kim puts into the Association as well as putting up with me as I rant and rave. Thank you, Kim, you are my rock.

Our Centenary year was celebrated in typical CBRA fashion, our foundation members would be so proud of the Association they formed in 1922, we have had 860 members, many who have progressed to great heights in their refereeing career but also our park referees, these are the backbone of our wonderful Association, they toil away each season for the love of the game and a passion for our wonderful Association, I am so proud to be the President in this our Centenary year and to lead an Association whose motto is “Integrity,

Service and Friendship”.

100 years down and now time to commence the next stage in the journey of CBRA with new milestones and challenges ahead.

Paul Archer President

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