WORLD CUP AND GALLAHER SHIELD 2011
It will be a remarkable double for New Zealand and Ponsonby
Just the second time for the All Blacks but 8 in a row for Ponies !!
OUR ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
We’ll have an early AGM for the Old Boys and Supporters the reason for which will be explained at that time. SATURDAY 16TH APRIL 2011 at 12.30 PM
As usual we’ll supply a bite of lunch.
It is the day of the first competition game of the season, against Teachers-Eastern.
An opportunity to see both the Premiers and the Senior 1 teams in actions after a long warm summer. Please come along, this is an important year for the club with the new clubrooms and its refurbishment, the World Cup and the hosting of Samoa and Tonga. Someone from the organising committee will address us on what part we will play in the scheme of things.
Club Annual General Meeting
This was held on the 24th November last year.
Bryan Williams retired as President and his brother Ces was elected in his place. This was due to the fact that Bryan would be elected as President of the New Zealand Rugby Union in April 2011. He felt that he could not give the attention to the job at Ponsonby while holding that position.
On the motion of Bob Paterson and seconding by Craig Partridge, our own Tom Aitken was elected a Life Member and presented with his badge.
Apart from these items there was a lot of talk about the coming season and the roll Ponsonby would have to fill. Exciting days are ahead and we will be part of it.
FINANCE
Over the years you have been very generous and we have build up a pretty good reserve. Now the days have come that we have to spend to assist in the fitting out of the new clubrooms. The parent club have already bought new floor covering and table and chairs. All the jersey cases have been taken down and re-stained. A group of us oldies have been beavering away for some time now, getting them ready for display. Acid free cardboard backing in each case and also inside the jersey. Jerseys from before 1950 will be specially treated by professional people to ensure that they will last. Quite a costly exercise but really necessary. All trophies have been listed by decade and photographed. It is envisaged that there will be three or four touch-screens where you can bring up any old photo, trophy and hopefully, in the future, players records. We also need new trophy cabinets. Also new cabinets to display such things as George Nicholson’s 1905 jersey and for instance Bill Carson’s cricket and All Black caps. We have so much to display!
The usual slip for your dues will be on the back but we ask that on this occasion you dig a bit deeper than normal. This is a one off occasion where we, the Old Boys and Supporters, can make areal contribution to our club.
OBITUARIES
The summer has been a sad one for Ponies with the loss of two stalwarts of the club.
On the 24th January Don Johnston heard the final whistle, 4 weeks before his 91st birthday. The last few years had not been kind to Don with many operations for skin cancers and two replacement knees.
Apparently the melanomas finally went into the vital organs. Don served Ponsonby in many ways. He was masseur for the Senior team for something like 30 years before becoming a strong administrator. Don was made a Life Member in 1980.
His other great interest was bowls and Don was also a Life Member of the Mount Eden Bowling Club.
Alex Munro played many games for the Ponsonby Senior team before taking up the whistle and becoming a very good referee. Alex served on the referee’s executive committee for many years and also on the Union’s Judicial Committee. His other great love in sport was rowing and Alex represented New Zealand as a member of the NZ Eight. He was selected to row in the Olympic games but finance prevented the team from going. He was made a Life Member for his services to the West End Rowing club After his retirement he was a regular attender at the Premier games and was often called upon to explain the rules.
Peter Cook was a keen follower of Ponsonby rugby for well over 25 years. He and his great friend Peter Nightingale were often seen in the clubrooms having a few beers after the game. Peter was a very cheerful character and always had a big smile after a win. In latter years he suffered from cancer and even while undergoing chemo treatment he still remained optimistic and cheerful.
Peter Nightingale gave a brilliant eulogy at his friend’s funeral.
RUGBY
I have been to a few of the Waka Nathan trophy games and came home with mixed feelings. Game against Suburbs was great but the following week against Waitakere was a letdown. A rainy day, plenty of mishandling and penalties from both sides. Game-plan was ignored by one and all and all this resulted in a loss. Following week against College Rifles they were back to their original form and had a very good win.
The Reserves or Senior 1 as they are now called had very good wins in all their games sofar. I think that the coaches will generally be quite happy with the preparation and the game against Teacher-Eastern on the day of our Annual Meeting should be a good one. See you there!
I trust you are all looking forward to a great year. Nothing less than the winning of the World Cup and Eight Gallaher Shields will do. See you on the 16th April at 12.30pm.
Kind regards to you all,
Phil