2020 Presidents Report

2020 presented the club with many challenges, all of which we could never have predicted. I can proudly say that we have come out the other side of this winter season in a good position to launch again, initially with the Summer Netball Season, but also with the Winter seasons in 2021. Our recovery and position at the end of this period is not by chance or good luck, but credited to the determination, flexibility and tireless work completed by our Committee, Coaches and Volunteers to ensure we provided our kids with the best opportunity to be active and healthy.

By the numbers, again we grew as a club. AusKick numbers were down on last season with 130 registered. This can be accounted by the AusKick season being shut down before it started. We usually gather momentum with the start of the AFL Season. We have the most NetSetGo participants this year, plus continue to grow with 180 Footballers and over 100 netballers.

2020 provided the club with the opportunity to launch some new teams. We entered two NetSetGoGo teams with the Surf Coast Shire competition over the summer, plus had our first U12 Girls Football team. Unfortunately, our plans to launch U19 netball was impacted by COVID with no games for any teams over 18 available this season. Similarly, plans to expand our Football age groups to U15 took a hit. Just as we were looking to launch a combined team with Anglesea, the season was put on hold and several players chose to explore other activities. As a club however we were able to work with local teams to ensure every player who wanted to play could get a game once the restart occurred.

The season restart saw us run for 3 weeks. The smiles on the kids faces were well worth the frantic effort all volunteers put in to make it happen over such a short lead in. Over these 3 weeks we still were able to launch our Indigenous Netball Dress, plus hosted Netball Games at the Narodya netball courts.

Once restrictions were eased again, and we got the go ahead for Summer Netball where we entered 11 teams (another record), the club was able to provide our younger members an opportunity for some further activity with AusKick running 3 sessions up till the AFL Grand Final, and NetSetGo running for 7 weeks till the end of November. This initiative has been very well received by our members and the community.

Financially the club remains in a very healthy position. As we have no paid positions and do not have to pay senior players etc., we have been able to reinvest all income from donated membership fees, sponsors and merchandise sales back into the club. Our Sponsors and Members have been fantastic over this season which sets the Suns up for the 2021 season.

I expect we will continue to grow in 2021 through addition additional teams and age groups. The club continues to employ the mantra of providing the opportunity and environment for everyone who wants to play, will have a place to play, and this appears to be attractive to many new members.

We continue to build our relationships with other sporting clubs who we play with, but also clubs who we share facilities to combine our common goals. The club has a good rapport with the council and AFL Barwon which is essential to support our growth and meet our challenges.

As I mentioned above, everyone who is involved at the Suns is a volunteer. I’d like to thank our committee, our coaches, team managers and all our parent helpers who keep the club ticking along. I have said several times, it may take a village to raise a child, but it takes our whole community to run our club. As we grow, we will need more people to get involved in whatever capacity they may, so you have a skill set or like getting out in the fresh air, get your Working with Children’s Check and step forward.

Thank You to everyone involved in supporting the club through the 2020 the season. Looking forward to making 2021 the best season for everyone.

Michael Thomas

Sur Coast Suns President