PRESIDENTS MESSAGE 18/9/08

The 2008 season has again been another successful year for Westbrook.  Our Cherrybrook and Galston Auskick centres experienced significant growth this year with nearly 50 Auskick players at our two centres.  Paul Vink and Daryl Vella (Cherrybrook) and Scott Featherston and Claudio Acosta (Galston) with great assistance from parents inspired our players through a mix of skills development and game time, providing heaps and fun and enjoyment.  

Westbrook fielded nine teams in 2008 and continued the ethos of ‘play with your mates’.  Congratulations to the U12 Division 2 and U14 Division 1 on achieving minor premiers and to the U13’s for making the semi finals.  The Under 12 Division 2's then went onto become the Premiers with the Under 14 Division 1 team achieving runners up in what was arguably one of the most talented AFL divisions in Sydney. 

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the coaches, assistant coaches and managers for their dedication during the season.  Unselfishly and tirelessly giving up their time to train the players one or two nights a week and then back up for the Sunday game.  Without your continued commitment Westbrook would not be the successful club it is today.

There are many others who perform important roles within the club that deserve thanks.  These are the parents who turn up to watch their child play, to then perform the role of goal umpire, boundary umpire, runner or water runner.  In addition, when we were at home, thanks to all who assisted with canteen and ground management duties.

Westbrook is fortunate to have an enthusiastic and dedicated committee.  Many hands made light work and this contributed greatly to the success of the club in 2008.  I wholeheartedly thank the committee for giving their time to attend to club matters.

At our recent presentation day, we thanked and honoured several people for their long term contribution to Westbrook.

• Life Membership - Sharon Mather and Owen Baglin.  Sharon has tirelessly performed multiple committee roles, including the canteen, fundraising and clothing over a period in excess of 7 years.  Owen Baglin has held the role of umpiring co-ordinator for over 6 years and through his mentoring has developed many young umpires who have moved onto seniors umpiring.  Both Sharon and Owen thoroughly deserve their life membership and have significantly contributed to the success of Westbrook.
• Mike Kenny Award - Andrew Turner has been actively involved in junior and youth footy at Westbrook since 1999 and a committee member since 2001.  Andrew can always be relied on to help out whenever needed, adding the roles of team manager, coach and coaching mentor to his committee role.  He is well respected throughout the football community and a deserved winner of the Mike Kenny Award for 2008.
• Jack Iredale Award - Kim McChlery has been the Westbrook Canteen Manager for several years.  In addition, Kim is a dedicated fundraising committee member always willing to help out regardless of her workload.  We acknowledge Kim with this award and look forward to many more years of great Sunday footy food.
  

Regards,

Andrew Miedler