OHA CLUBS

OHA

Clubs

OHA Clubs provide our community with the opportunity to Stay Connected through like-minded interests. Whether it’s through Sport, the Arts or a virtual game with the eSports crew, the OHA has you covered. Discover the list of clubs on offer through the OHA website.

Cricket

After so much uncertainty leading into the season and not knowing whether we would be able to play, the Club was very grateful to see restrictions ease so we could take the field for season 2021/22.

It was promotions across the Club for this season, with both our men's teams being promoted to Division 1 and 2 respectively of the Melbourne Cricket Club Senior Men's Competition. The Club is proud to be a part of the elite Division 1 again after a near 10year absence.

Our Hearts senior women's team which finished Cricket Southern Bayside Women's Division 2 as runner up in its inaugural season in 2020/21, was also rewarded for its performances with promotion to Division 1 for this season. A fantastic effort from the Hearts to be playing in Division 1 in only their second ever season.

The Club continued to grow in numbers this season with close to 80 members and we started a second Hearts senior women's team as well as introducing an annual men's Veteran's Cup game to be played against Old Caulfield.

This is the first time in the Club’s 54-year history that we've had men's, women's and veterans’ cricket up and running and we're committed to continuing to look for ways to provide opportunities for the Haileybury community to stay connected through our club.

The Club caters for players of all abilities and prides itself on being a fun, relaxed and welcoming place to play cricket and socialise. We'd love to see our playing and supporter numbers continue to grow. To be part of this fantastic club, whether it be as a player, volunteer or social club member, contact Club President Manny Coomaraswamy (OH '99) via the OHA website or follow us on social media.

Manny Coomaraswamy (OH ’99)

President

Football

While the on-field season has come to a very disappointing end for all involved, I would just like to acknowledge and reflect on the really positive achievements our club has made during another extremely difficult year. From an on-field perspective, our player registrations exceeded 150 for our four teams, which was the highest for many years. Our Under 19s and Hearts team had well over 30 players each which is extremely pleasing for the overall health of the Club and, in season 2022, the Club is striving to field a second Hearts team so we can further refine our football activities to better cater to the varying experience levels within our female program.

Our Under 19s and Men’s Senior teams had very successful seasons and were well placed to be serious premiership contenders if finals were able to be played. Our Hearts were severely impacted by VAFA regrading issues and a resulting inequitable number of byes but only just finished outside of top four which is a great credit to them given the difficulties thrown their way. Our Men’s reserves improved significantly and were close in many games to clutching a historic victory.

Off the field it has also been a very successful year. Through the hard work and persistence of our committee and volunteers, the Club has: > Successfully rejuvenated its committee and structure which has facilitated additional personnel to helped drive the Club forward this

year. Particular thanks to our Strategic

Planning Committee of David Lappage (OH '90) Matthew Armstrong (OH ’88)

Wayne Oswald, David Connell (OH ’88) and Andrew Bonwick (OH ’88). > Worked extensively among all teams around the values we wish our ongoing club culture to be based. > Significantly upgraded the Club’s website and associated communication platform which enables higher-quality communications, improved advertising for sponsors, payment portal and a fantastic cache of historical records.

Special thanks to Jordan Shanks (OH 2010) for website design, Mim

Waterman with communications, David

Southgate (OH ’77) for historical records and the Old Haileyburians Association for financial support of the project. > Through the work of Dave Connell and

Matthew Armstrong, we have been able to attract wonderful sponsors and partners to our Club despite very challenging financial times. Please see our sponsors below and look to support then as well as they have supported us. > Achieved a significant step forward towards achieving our One Club policy with our Hearts team feeling much more part of the Club these days. Our three female Committee members of

Mim Waterman, Gab Suriano and Anita Frawley were instrumental in lifting

Club focus in this important ongoing area. > Prioritised attention on player wellbeing and mental health initiatives including implementing Tackle your

Feelings and Ahead of the Game programs—the latter specifically aimed at Under-19 men which is a particularly at-risk group given relative emotional immaturity and life experience compared with our older men and women members. A big thanks to Pat O’Leary, Anita Frawley and Chelsea Frawley (OH 2010) for your help in improving our Club in this vital area and most importantly, thank you to our members who consistently have shown a high level of care for those around them. While at times we couldn’t play football, the approach from all has helped everyone stay connected and cope with life’s current challenges.

While season 2021 has been very challenging, our Committee is very proud of the way our players, coaches, medical staff, sponsors and volunteers have met the challenges thrown our way.

Planning is well under way for season 2022 with the reappointment of Daniel Ward as Men’s senior coach and Sean Brady as Senior Women’s coach. We would love to have your continued support in 2022.

Michael Constable (OH ’84)

President

Bowls

OHA Bowls has made an exciting transition from a once-per-year match against fellow APS alumni teams to a regular competition club. The Club is now playing out of Cheltenham Bowls Club each Tuesday night in Division 5 of the of the Electric Lights Bowls Association.

The Club’s aim by having a more formalised club and home base is to provide a stronger link for the Haileybury school bowlers as a ‘pathway’ to a well-structured club should they be interested in bowls after leaving school.

In future, the Club will look to conduct tournaments and championships for its members and to continue to increase the pool of interested bowlers available for selection in its teams.

For further information, please contact Mark on 0407 040 715.

Mark Thompson (OH ’82)

President