Emag Oct Version 2 by moorebanksports

OCTOBER NOVEMBER DECEMBER

President's Report. Director's Profile.

ALBY TAYLOR

I would like to begin this edition of the Sporties Emag by paying tribute to former Club President Bob Fleeton, who recently lost his battle with cancer.

Bob had been a fixture of Moorebank Sports Club for 30 years and had dedicated most of his adult life to our Club and to supporting grassroots sport in our area. His vision and determination are the reasons our Club is so successful, and the foundations laid by him are why we continue to grow year after year.

Under his leadership, the licensed venue was built, we’ve undergone multiple renovations and upgrades, and our five sporting codes have grown to be one of the largest groups in Sydney’s southwest. Sporties has also contributed millions of dollars in funding to dozens of local community organisations.

Bob’s dedication to his community were second to none and on behalf of the Sporties Board of Directors, management and staff, I thank Bob for the legacy he has left behind.

We have a busy few months coming up with contracts being finalised with Liverpool Council for the sale of land along Heathcote Road. I’ve said it many times before, but this deal will be a gamechanger for our Club and the wider community.

It will allow us to expand our footprint within the Hammondville Park Precinct and build a bigger and better Club for everyone to enjoy. We are looking at more dining and entertainment options, state-of-the-art meeting and event facilities, familyfriendly leisure activities, and improved carparking for club patrons and our sporting codes.

We are hopeful these contracts will be signed in the coming weeks so planning for our new Club can commence.

It’s been a big season for our sporting codes with a record number of teams and players registered with our clubs.

Moorebank Soccer Club had 82 teams registered with a 20 per cent increase on 2023 player numbers, and a 24 per cent increase in female participation compared to last year. We had nine teams win Minor Premierships – including two women’s teams, and 29 teams make the semi-finals.

MSC also introduced the all-ability program, Football4All, with 17 players aged 5-16 years coming together on Saturday mornings for games. A wonderful initiative that was embraced by our community and will continue for many years to come.

would like to congratulate the three Moorebank Cricket Club teams who won Premierships with the Fairfield-Liverpool Association competitions; Under 10 White who were minor Premiers as well, Under 12 White who were undefeated for the season, and the 4th Grade Seniors.

Well done also to the 23 junior players who have been selected for FLCA representative honours.

Congratulations to Moorebank Netball Club who had six teams in the finals, and who progressed several young ladies through their umpiring program.

Rams Rugby League Club also did well this season with seven teams making it to grand finals across men’s and women’s league and league tag competitions.

And in baseball, the Royals had a fantastic summer season with four of their eight teams across juniors and seniors making finals. Well done to the Senior League team who won their grand final, and to the Saturday Seniors who were runners up.

To finish, I would like to thank all members and guests for your ongoing support, and look forward to seeing you at the Club soon.

Alby Taylor

NAL WIJESEKERA

Nal Wijesekera was born in Columbo, Sri Lanka but moved to Australia as a young child. He lived in the Punchbowl area and attended St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School in Belmore.

After school, he completed a Bachelor of Education and a master’s degree in religion at the Australian Catholic University in Strathfield and became a teacher at De La Salle High School in Kingsgrove.

He went on to work in the teaching profession for 30 years, in various roles including Year Coordinator, Sports Coordinator, Director of Catholic Identity and Mission, and Assistant Principal.

Nal always had a keen interest in sport and from 2007 to 2011, he was the President of NSW Combined Catholic Colleges Rugby League Association, and he coached the NSW Under 18s side. He was on the Australian Schoolboys Rugby League Board, the NSWRL Future Directions Board, and he is a Life Member of Canterbury Junior Rugby League.

Nal has held coaching positions with the Canterbury Bulldogs and was the first coach to win the club a Harold Matthews Cup. He has also held roles as the High-Performance Coach for the St George Illawarra rugby league club, and the Pathways Manager at the Penrith Panthers NRL Club, before moving into player management.

Nal has been a member of Sporties since 2000 when his children began playing for our netball and soccer clubs.

In 2020, he became a director.

“I am very passionate about this area, and am very community-minded. I want to see our youth involved in sport as believe it promotes a positive mindset and helps to instil the resilience needed to navigate life.

“I love this club because it fosters a real sense of community and social interaction, and it has a very strong charitable arm. It’s vision centres around giving back to the community and enriching the lives of those who live here”

Nal Wijesekera

Moorebank Sports Club is dedicated to enriching the lives of young people in our community, both on the sporting field and academically.

Former President Bob Fleeton, who dedicated over 30 years to our Club, was incredibly passionate about this, so to honour his legacy we have launched a tertiary scholarship in his name to ease the financial pressure on university students in our local area.

The Bob Fleeton Scholarship is open to those studying – or hoping to study full-time at university, in any field for up to $5,000 per year (for a maximum of five years).

Candidates, or parents of candidates, must be members of Sporties for over five years, and must live within a 5km radius of the Club.

Submissions are now open and close 10 January 2025.

The Sporties Board will assess all applications, and the successful applicant will be notified by 31 January 2025.

TO APPLY >

$108,605

In the latest round of ClubGRANTS funding allocations, Sporties supported five local organisations with financial contributions to help them continue to provide their vital services in our community.

CONTRIBUTIONS OUR $108,605

LEARNING LINKS

FUNDING GRANTED: $34,780

PROJECT: Psychology in Schools (Mental Health & Wellbeing Program)

Learning Links psychologists will work at Hammondville Public School to support local children to achieve sound mental health, and social and emotional wellbeing.

Sporties funding will support up to 60 vulnerable students using evidence-based programs to address concerns such as anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, anger management, and poor social skills.

HEROES WITH ABILITY

FUNDING GRANTED: $20,000

PROJECT: Varying Abilities Sports Schools Program

Over the course of one term, Heroes With Ability will deliver a sport and exercise program for one hour per week to a class of up to 30 students, with a focus on functional movement and skills, to promote fun, inclusion, teamwork, communication, and fitness.

Sporties’ funding will allow HWA to run their school sport’s programs for approximately 100 students in the Liverpool LGA.

SWSLHD MENTAL HEALTH

FUNDING GRANTED: $2,000

PROJECT: Sensory Tools for Mental Health

Sensory items are specially designed items to engage the senses; sight, touch, sound, taste, and smell. These items stimulate different pathways in the brain and can act as stress relievers, providing calming and soothing effects, reducing anxiety, and promoting emotional regulation and wellbeing.

The funding provided by Sporties will provide sensory items for 100 patients a month for their use during their stay, and after discharge.

MIRACLE BABIES

FUNDING GRANTED: $15,900

PROJECT: NurtureGroup Liverpool

NurtureGroup is a free play and support group for babies and young children, and their families, affected by prematurity or sickness. It offers a safe environment where children can learn and develop through play and socialisation, whilst offering their families ongoing peer and mental health support.

The funding provided by Sporties will support the delivery of NurtureGroup for 100 families in the Liverpool area.

FUNDING GRANTED: $10,925

PROJECT: Support resources for families with premature or sick babies in Liverpool Hospital

Families in the Liverpool Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit with their premature or sick newborns will receive peer-developed resource packs containing tools and information to support their mental health and wellbeing.

The funding provided by Sporties will provide 60 NICU Survival Packs, 60 Emergency Care Packs, 60 Milk Express Pacls, and Grad Bags, to families at Liverpool Hospital.

GEORGES RIVER LIFE CARE

FUNDING GRANTED: $25,000

PROJECT: Community Connect

Since 2020, GRLC has been developing support services in the Liverpool LGA with particular focus on supporting families and households experiencing hardship. They have been supplying food hampers, Christmas hampers, and school backpacks to some of the most vulnerable families in the area.

In 2022, GRLC began hosting fortnightly lunches at local schools on Sundays where families can come together in a safe and positive environment and pick up a quality pantry hamper that will help to keep food on the table.

Sporties’ funding will allow GRLC to purchase items for these lunches and their hampers to keep our community fed.

And… that’s a wrap!

It’s been another successful season for our sporting codes with some fantastic results across all age groups.

MOOREBANK SPORTS

SOCCER CLUB

This season began with the opening of our fantastic synthetic field and this all-weather field proved to be an invaluable asset this year, as the competition was hampered by rain on many weekends.

Our Club had a record number of teams this season with an increase in our senior and female player numbers beyond our expectations.

This year, MSC introduced Football4All to our community. This all-ability program was open to children between the ages of 5 to 16 years. Our 17 participants came together every Saturday morning and even played in the SNAPP gala day.

SEASON HIGHLIGHTS

• 82 teams in total

• 1,265 total registrations - 20% increase in registrations from 2023

• 24% increase in female player participation from 2023

• Minor Premiers Teams –9 with 2 of these being ladies’ teams

• Number of teams to make semi-finals – 29 with 7 of these ladies teams

Daniel Flego

MOOREBANK SOCCER CLUB

MOOREBANK SPORTS CRICKET CLUB

We had 12 teams representing the club throughout the 2023-24 season with a total of 139 registered players.

Moorebank had three teams winning premierships in the Fairfield-Liverpool Cricket Association (FLCA) competitions for 2023/24:

• Under 10 White (Minor Premiers & Premiers)

• Under 12 Blue (Undefeated Minor Premiers & Premiers)

• 4th Grade Seniors (Premiers)

STANDOUT PERFORMANCES

Juniors: Benedict John Sibi (U13) was named the Moorebank Junior Cricketer of the Year for his consistent performances throughout the season, with Ankit Gulavani(U12) and Liam Quigley (U13) finishing 2nd and 3rd respectively. Twin brothers Benjamin and Jackson Davies from U10 both also finished in the top 5 for Juniors.

Seniors: Anmol Kumar (4th Grade) was named the Moorebank Senior Cricketer of the Year and was also awarded the overall FLCA Senior Cricketer of the Year across all grades in the FLCA Senior competition.

And Moorebank Cricket Club had a record 23 Junior players selected for FLCA representative honours.

Justin Quigley

MOOREBANK CRICKET CLUB

MOOREBANK

Moorebank Rams performed extremely well across the men’s and women’s league and league tag competitions this season. RESULTS

U/11 div2 - Plate Grand Finalists

U/12 div2 - Undefeated Minor Premiers (Runners Up) U/13 div2 - Premiers

U/14 Silver Girls League Tag - Minor Premiers (Runners Up) U/16 Silver Girls League Tag - Minor Premiers (Runners Up) Women’s Open League Tag - Grand Finalists

Mark Weller

MOOREBANK

MOOREBANK ROYALS BASEBALL CLUB

The Royals had a fantastic summer season 23/24, with five junior teams and three senior teams performing well throughout the year.

Four teams (two junior/two senior) made finals, with our Senior League (Age 15/16) winning their Grand Final, while our Saturday Seniors were runners up.

We had a number of players representing Macarthur Baseball at Association level, as well as the following high achievers:

• • Draven Fatu & Tahlan Cavill - Australian U16 National Team

• • Maddison Heath - NSW Womens League 1st Grade Hitter of the Year, Women's Emerald's National Team, Coach of the Year (Macarthur Association), Women’s NSW Team Coach

• • Mariam Arifaki - NSW Women’s League 2nd Grade Hitter of the Year, Women’s NSW Team

• • Ryleigh Delacour-Batch - NSW Women’s Team • • Lachlan Brook - U23 National Team

Season 24/25 began in September with five junior teams and three senior teams competing.

We are very proud of our little club and the exceptional talent and achievements of our players. We wouldn't operate if it wasn't for our brilliant Committee and Volunteers.

Melanie Charlton

MOOREBANK ROYALS

PRESIDENT

MOOREBANK SPORTS NETBALL CLUB Moorebank remained the largest Club for the 2024 season with 19 teams, comprised of 175 players across juniors and seniors.

11 teams made the Semi Finals, with 6 teams progressing to finals.

Caitlin Darby, Chloe Glissan, and Ava Chapman successfully progress through the Whistles in Mouths Umpiring Program. These girls, alongside Eleanor Kruger, can now progress towards achieving their National C Umpires Badge, next year.

A sincere THANK-YOU to Sporties for their continuous support and financial assistance.

Success just does not happen. With an enthusiastic, hard-working committee, and Coaching staff led by our President, Shirley McAlister, we have been able to maintain a progressive and successful Netball Club for another year.

Ann Richards

MOOREBANK NETBALL CLUB SECRETARY

GRLC Care For A Walk

WE DID IT!

On Sunday 8 September, close to 200 members of our community came together at Homestead Park in Chipping Norton for Care For A Walk, to raise money for the purchase of a van for Georges River Life Care.

We reached our target of $15,000!

Thanks to the generosity of donors, partners, sponsors, volunteers, and walk participants, we reached our goal, which means GRLC will be able to get the commercial food rescue van they need to continue delivering their food hampers to people in need.

We had mums, dads, kids, babies, grandparents, football teams, girl guide units, and businesses, all walking or running the 5km track.

A huge thank you to our sponsors: Liverpool Council, Gold Security Management, Sunblest Cleaning Services, Hennessey Coffee, and Coca-Cola Euro Pacific Partners.

And thank you to the Sporties team members who gave up their Sunday to volunteer for BBQ duties, and to run the refreshment stand and face painting.

In September, we celebrated some wonderful members of our community with our fifth ‘Nominate A Neighbour’ morning tea.

This initiative recognises the quiet achievers in our neighbourhood; those who make a real difference in the lives of others but rarely get the recognition they deserve.

In each round of submissions, we choose one winner to receive $1,000 cash, and a few Community Champion runners-up who each get $200 Sporties Dollars.

This round’s winner was Elaine Sampson who was nominated by three different individuals. Elaine is being recognised for the kindness and generosity she shows towards the other residents in her townhouse complex.

To read more about Elaine and our other

Community Champions, visit BLOG

THE NEXT ROUND OF NOMINATE A NEIGHBOUR IS NOW OPEN

Lauren Taurima & Elaine Sampson with the Sporties Executive Team

Lauren Taurima & Elaine Sampson

LIGHTHORSE KITCHEN

Spring has sprung… and the team at On Point Catering are celebrating with some new additions to the Lighthorse Kitchen menu!

To start, they’ve added Tempura Zucchini Flowers to the list of Entrees, and you can now get a Grilled Calamari Salad if you’re after something light.

In the South East Asian Corner, there’s now a BBQ Pork Spring Roll and Char Siu Pork Stir Fry, and in Club Hits you can enjoy a Chicken Boscaiola and Battered Whiting.

Potato Gnocchi has been added to the Pan-O-Rama options and there’s a decadent Dukkha and Pomegranate Lamb Shoulder on the Signatures menu.

Don’t worry… all of your favourites are still on the menu; our meat and seafood platters are still there, and there are no changes to our pizza range.

And for those with a sweet tooth, we’ve added a Crème Brulee to our dessert menu!

$17 LUNCH SPECIALS

(Available Monday – Thursday)

GRILLED HOKI FILLET

BANGERS & MASH

BUTTER CHICKEN

CHICKEN CAESAR SALAD

SEE THE FULL LIGHTHORSE KITCHEN MENU HERE

Cocktails, Wine

anyone?

Our Beverage Team has outdone themselves this time.

When we asked them to come up with a new cocktail menu, we were thinking - keep the favs in there, add a few new ones, try some new flavours, and add some glitter.

Instead, they expanded our range of Signature Temptations Cocktails to include some incredible new tastes, including a Mango & Lychee Spritz, a Honey & Strawberry Sour, and a Passionfruit Tom Collins.

They created a new list of Showtime Cocktails based on bubbles and burnt spices, with garnishes such as burnt cinnamon and burnt rosemary.

And they’ve also managed to keep all the classics in there like the French Martini, Mojito, and Long Island Iced Tea, and there’s a selection of mocktails for those wanting to avoid alcohol.

a little… laugh a lot.

When we launched Lighthorse Kitchen at Sporties, the aim was to elevate the dining experience for our members and guests.

To compliment the high-quality food on offer, we decided to reinvigorate our wine list to give patrons the opportunity to enjoy a delicious meal complimented by a great drop.

We set out to create a wine menu that everyone could enjoy, from beginner tasters to long-time wine lovers. We’ve focused on Australian-grown from some of the best regions in the country, and we’ve tried to cater for almost every palate.

Our Signature Wine List is definitely the highlight, incorporating some of Australia’s best known and loved wines including Penfolds, St Hallett, Hentley Farm, and Bimbadgen.

To read more on our new selection of wines and our pairing recommendations, visit BLOG LINK

To check out the wine menu, visit LINK