WE MADE THE DOUBLE !!!

There is no doubt that 2011 was a great year for New Zealand rugby and for Ponsonby.
The eighth Gallaher Shield in a row. Thinking back the previous record held by Ponsonby and Parnell jointly was 4.  Parnell’s was before the Gallaher Shield became the main trophy and was between 1891 and 1894. Ponsonby followed in 1924.
The flow-on from the World Cup is already noticeable. Beegee told me that we had even more teams this year than last. So the future looks bright. Brighter than the summer we have just had!

CLUB’S AGM.

The meeting held on the 23rd of November was well attended.
Mr. Gary Whetton represented the Auckland Rugby Union and congratulated Ponsonby on their recent achievements.
Two new Life Members were elected. Both were nominated by Peter Harwood:
Peter Thorp came to the club in a very difficult time. He proved himself to be a great administrator and decision maker and oversaw a most successful period for the club. Ponsonby is now a club with 50 teams and has won 8 Gallaher Shields in a row. The many negotiations with the Auckland Council over lease arrangements and the extensions to the clubrooms were handled by Peter with tact and proved successful in the end.
Jack Huch has distinguished himself in many ways. He was fine winger for Ponsonby and played 8 games for Auckland. After his playing career finished Jack became a very good coach. With the help of others he coached a number of Sevens teams and travelled the world with them. While still active as a technical adviser for the Prems, he  joined the Management Committee some years ago as an administrator.
The retirement of Peter Thorp as Chairman meant that the Management Committee needed a new chairman and at the first meeting of the new committee, Chris Clews was elected to that position. Chris has a solid background in rugby administration through the Junior section of the club. We know that he will do well.
Popular treasurer Mike Lomas also retired and his successor is Scott Turner.
Mike was happy to announce that for the first time in a few years the club had shown a profit. No doubt due to the World Cup activities.

OLD BOYS ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
We will have our own AGM on Saturday 5th May at 12.30 pm
The Premiers are playing Te Papa-Mt.Wellington that day at Western Springs.
As usual we will supply some lunch and we will invite the new Chairman of the Management Committee, Chris Clews, to address us so we can hear how he sees the future of our club and what plans he might have for improvements.
I hear that he has formed a Memorabilia Committee so it will be interesting to hear how he sees the function of our association in respect to our memorabilia and other aspects of the club.

It is with regret that I must inform you of the passing of ANTON BEGOVICH in February of this year. Many of you will remember Anton for his dedication to the Ponsonby Rugby Club. I think it was in the late sixties or early seventies that he first came to the club and immediately became an ardent member.
For many years he made it his job to look after the gear of the senior team and used his truck for transport whenever it was needed. The team often changed at  Blake Street or Western Springs in later years and travelled in Anton’s truck to wherever they were playing that day. He was also the first who came up the stairs in Blake Street carrying the Gallaher Shield on the few occasions we won it during those years. Anton had a great memory for rugby facts, not quite as good as Tommy Tawa, but remembered many instances that had occurred many years ago.
He was a soft touch for many of the senior players who perhaps weren’t earning a lot of money. Many a ten or twenty went in the pocket to provide them with a few beers at the aftermatch. I also remember that he loaned more substantial amounts of money which were never recovered.
Anton had a weakness for the vino and that got him into trouble on number of occasions. But he was always repentant and returned to the club after working off his suspension. A true Ponsonby character who gave much service to our club and who will truly be missed for a long time to come.
Inga Tuigamala was the funeral director and ran the service for Anton and made a great job of it.

SUBSCRIPTION
So the time has come again to renew your membership of the Old Boys and Supporters Association. Hard working Craig Partridge will again look after the banking but you may also bank direct to the account shown below.
We pulled our weight when it came to the refurbishment of the clubrooms and the preservation of some of the old jerseys and you contributed brilliantly when I asked for a special effort. Many thanks.

Mr. C. T. Partridge
66 Willerton Avenue  New Lynn
Auckland   Postcode:  0600

Please find enclosed my subscription for the 2012 Season

Name…………………………………………….Amount…………..