An excellent turnout of some 45 former players, supporters, administrators from 1963 onwards turned out at the Gillon Oval to hear guest speakers Paul Coghlan and Paul Lacava speak. Tim Purdey (former secretary) introduced the day with a unique explanation of why Secretary’s at the Club keep getting appointed as judges, or was this a job application to Mr Hulls?

President Trevor Ludeman informed the gathering that the purposes of these luncheons is two fold – to provide members and supporters with a twice yearly social gathering to engage with past members and to provide an update on new initiatives. Last year the Presidents Luncheon, through the efforts of Ray Kelsey, was able to recognise the efforts of the formative years of 1963-64 with 22 of the possible 26 players attending. This year the 1994 Reserves and 1976 Senior Premiership players also attended luncheons.

In terms of new initiatives, Trevor informed the gathering of the formation of the COBS Foundation. This initiative has been driven by Lee Iafrate. Lee became our first St. Pats sponsor (Major) in 2008 and is seeking to be jumper sponsor for 2010-2012. A committee consisting of Terry Scanlon, Bernie Skahill, Trevor Ludeman, Denis Churkovich, Lee Iafrate and Mark Waddington (St. Pats Development officer) have been meeting regularly over the past 12 months. The concept behind a Foundation is to be providing an avenue of support to future players through a scholarship program to assist students from St. Pats in seeking to study in Melbourne.

The idea behind the initiative is to complement and extend the existing St Pat’s Foundation to assist students beyond year 12. One of the major issues impacting on tertiary students from regional areas is the cost of tertiary or vocational studies. An increasingly common way to approach this issue is for students to take a “gap year” and earn a minimum of $18,000 over this 12 month period and then enrol in your course. The completion of the gap year then classifies the student as independent, meaning their parents income is not means tested for Austudy purposes. This has ramifications for recruitment of students to the Club from St. Patricks College, in particular U19’s. It is expected that the first social function to start fund raising for this foundation will take place late 2009 or early 2010.

Guest Speakers

In introducing the speakers Paul Lacava and Paul Coghlan, an email from Honorary Life Member John Adams was presented;

Trevor – Once again my apologies for being unable to attend on Saturday. Ironically I’ll be having lunch in Canberra with Michael Coghlan (Paul’s brother and another Club stalwart) at the same time. The two Paul’s were great servants of the Club.

Paul the First did all the hard work behind the scenes in our formative years. On a Saturday he would look after all the detail including team sheets, oranges and the other stuff before strutting the boundary line in a sale-yard coat and trying to keep our more vociferous supporters under some sort of control. I think he’ll find it hard not to mention a certain day at Glenhuntly! Then afterwards the social stuff to organise.

He was a tremendous support to me in those days and we had some great times as it all started to come together and, believe me, without Paul Coghlan it wouldn’t have.

Paul the Second’s role in representing the Club at the VAFA was outstanding. He made sure that all that had been achieved after a somewhat shaky start in our relationship with the Executive was well and truly maintained and enhanced.

Please pass on my best wishes to everyone and I hope it is a great day.

“Herb”

Paul Lacava spoke first of his experience playing U12 against St. Pats in Ballarat and then his role as Secretary and league delegate for NOB’s. An infamous VAFA dispute was recalled in the early 1980’s when a player with a well known “A” grade club sought $600 a game, as that what had been offered by another club in the same division. This allegation turned out to be false yet the team this player had been playing all season subsequently lost the points for the only 3 games of the year, due to the signing of a false declaration!

Paul Coghlan indeed recalled the famous day at Glenhuntly when an in all in brawl started after the game and Mr Carney sporting one of the biggest black eyes you ever see. Of Tom Spall being rubbed out for 14 weeks because he pulled a goal umpires hat over his eyes – Goal umpire had signalled a goal when ball had clearly hit post and was still wobbling when he signalled goal. The reason for the “hat incident” was that the goal umpire had goaded Tom into this action and later admitted so at the tribunal.

Paul paid tribute to John Adams as it was his initiative and drive that led to the formation of the Club in 1963 and for its subsequent rise into A grade by 1969.

Trevor Ludeman
PRESIDENT NOBSPC