NEWSLETTER 17

General Manager's COVID Update

Unfortunately, as you know from President Tuxy’s last email and more broadly, COVID has beaten us and has led to the cancellation of the Sydney Rugby Union Premiership across all Grade, Colts, Women’s and Junior competitions. No premierships in any grades will be awarded and it’s the first time since 1918 that the Shute Shield won’t be completed.

It would seem my timing in taking on the GM role has coincided with events of biblical epic proportions and sadly, it all became very real to our staff last week with the herculean task of packing up our rugby footprint from Coogee Oval, to handover to cricket. Our hope was to be preparing all our teams to play semi-finals rugby last Saturday and not doing the Pandemic spring cleaning, but disappointingly it was not to be.

With the 2021 season now consigned to an unwanted place in history, we have already turned our full attention to 2022 and are very hopeful that with the lion share of our community, state and country vaccinated by then, we can just get on with life, play and enjoy the footy at Coogee as normal.

What the 2022 season will actually look like is being debated by all of the Shute Shield Clubs this week i.e. the draw make-up, starting dates, number of rounds etc. Plus, higher up the political food chain there is the much discussed, still not totally agreed to, but well leaked and much spun Participation Agreement, that the Sydney Rugby Union (SRU) requires clubs to sign off on to play next season in the premier competition and beyond.

There is quite a deal of water to flow under both those bridges and once we have confirmation we will let you know what it all means to us and you. Watch this space.

Don’t forget with Father’s Day next Sunday, The Wicks Shop has plenty of perfect gift ideas for your dad who is mad about the Galloping Greens. Forget the socks and undies, we have heaps of Wicks Supporters gear that your dad will truly love to get into and even special bundle items to help you save even further.

In other news, you can read a nice yarn done by the NSWRU in their Charter Hall Community Series, about one of our most dedicated volunteers, the inimitable Ric McLallen and all his efforts for us.

In our circle of life, we have sadly lost a few members of the Randwick family and the local community recent days, plus have a few former legends not doing so well. In more positive news we welcome a new addition to the tribe, celebrate the 90^th birthday of one of our stalwarts and wedding bells are in the air for one of our players.

Read on for all this and more......

Please Support Our Sponsors
While we have nothing for our fans to support in a rugby sense on the field, we would ask you if you have the means to do so, to support our sponsors businesses.

Fortunately, we have some very rusted on sponsors of this club, so please pay a visit online to these organisations by clicking on their logos's displayed at the end of the update. We thank them sincerely, for their loyalty, during such trying times…. yet again!

So, if you need a pizza, a coffee, groceries, insurance or right up to a house or a car - our sponsors are open for business and would be delighted to hear from you.

Every Day is Father's Day at The Wick's Shop!
Please don’t despair that you can’t go to Eastgardens, as The Wicks Shop, is open 24/7 to help you find a gift solution for your dad.

So, Wick’s shoppers all the supporters gear you need for Dad is at your fingertips online – from retro jerseys, jackets, hoodies, beanies, caps and a whole lot more. Plus, we have hot selling tracksuits, indigenous designed training shorts, long sleeve t-shirts and of course Wicks face masks for this COVID fashion season.

Plus, for Father’s Day we even have 4 bundles specials, which are all at affordable price points at only $49.95 or $19.95.

There are no games and all our events are cancelled so what better way to keep supporting the club than by buying some kit and looking after Dad at the same time – simply head to The Wicks Shop

Plus, if you purchase a gift today, we will be dispatching it tomorrow (Wednesday, Sept 1) and it should be delivered by Saturday, for those living in NSW.

Ric McLallen's - Charter Hall Community Volunteer Series

Sadly, in recent weeks we have lost a couple of members of the Randwick family in former grade player from the It is fantastic that Ric’s mammoth contribution to Randwick Rugby is recognised and promoted to the masses, please enjoy this article written by Declan Armstrong, which is part of a series of stories on the terrific volunteers across all the Shute Shield Clubs.

Click here to view the article.

Vale Peter Sweeny, Trish Fraser & Clyde 'Trux' Park

Sadly, in recent weeks we have lost three members of our Randwick family and local community.

Peter Sweeney who was a major contributor to both Randwick Rugby and Coogee Surf Club, passed away peacefully last Friday after battling enduring complications following a double lung transplant more than a decade ago.

Peter was instrumental in the redevelopment of the Randwick Rugby Club site and was elected Chairman of the Randwick Rugby Foundation from its inception in 2002. Peter made a huge contribution to help rescue the Club from the difficult financial problems it faced in the late 1990’s, providing the platform for the sound financial position that the Foundation is now in, which has helped to cement the Football Club’s future and the development of junior rugby in our district.

Peter was also the MD of the Port Botany Container Group, who was a major sponsor of the club for 15 years and also employed many of our players there during this period. Peter was a true Randwick man and our deepest sympathies go to Trish, James and Simon and their families, plus he will be sadly missed by his many friends.

Trish Fraser is the wife of our well-known ground timekeeper, scoreboard operator, training BBQ king and former Board Member Chris Fraser. Trish has been seriously unwell for a long time and finally succumbed to her epic battle with cancer, peacefully at home aged 68. We extend our deepest sympathy to Chris and his family for their loss.

Clyde ‘Trux’ Park who passed earlier in August, was a 75-year Long Service Member and one of the great characters of Coogee Surf Club and the brother of current Club Governor and massive Wicks supporter David ‘Luna’ Park. ‘Trux’ died peacefully in hospital aged 93, after a long illness. We extend our deepest sympathy to ‘Luna’ and his family.

Again, it’s heartbreaking at any time to lose a loved one, but for it to happen during the extreme COVID lockdown restrictions in place and not be able to farewell them in a manner befitting, is a great tragedy.

Vale Peter, Trish and Clyde. God bless you, your families and many friends.

Get Well Duck and Schooners!

Well known former players and club characters Damien ‘The Duck’ Maree and Peter ‘Schooners’ Willcox, unfortunately were reacquainted recently last week with an extended stay in the Coronary ward at Prince of Wales Hospital. ‘The Duck’ was back in POW after complications from a recent operation and ‘Schooners’ was down from his North Coast home for major by-pass surgery.

Both are back home now on the mend and we wish them all the best in their recovery.

A Baby Boy for Gaz, Miso hits 90 & Kalan is Punching!

In much more positive news to finish, huge congratulations go to our First Grade Backs Coach Garrick ‘Gaz’ Cowley and his beautiful wife Tessie on the recent birth of their 3^rdchild – a bouncing baby boy Joseph William Cowley.

Mum and Bub are fit and well, plus the poor kid is already shamelessly being used to promote the Wicks Corduroy Cap he bought Gaz for Father’s Day. Dad is over the moon with both new acquisitions!

Also, at the other end of the spectrum, a very Happy 90^th Birthday goes to long time club supporter, former 1^st Grade Manager and dentist to the stars John Mison. John never misses a game at Coogee Oval with his old mate Peter Court, so congratulations John on reaching this milestone. Enjoy!

Finally, congratulations to 4th Grade Premiership winning player Kalan Talefenua on his recent engagement to the very lovely Izzi Dolan. Clearly ‘4rd’ Grade types are kicking goals on and off the field, so we wish them both the very best for their future together.

The End.....

With almost 1300 cases announced yesterday in NSW, Rugby is obviously not the main game here - it's truly all about keeping our loved ones and community safe.

Without being overly political, its crystal clear that COVID vaccination will play a huge role in achieving a return to freedom and some sort of normality. So do your bit and get it done.

Finally, Happy Father’s Day to all the amazing dad’s out there and I hope you enjoy it in whatever you can, during this weird time.

Take care and Up the Wicks!

Regards
Mark

Mark Harrison
General Manager
Randwick DRUFC