President’s Report – 2023 / 2024

After the long-range weather forecasts of a very wet summer, we were relatively unscathed and only missed one Friday night and some games in this Post Xmas season. Those games were last weekend. Many teams were still able to play.

We had fourteen boys and two girls who were selected in Brisbane North representative teams which played all over the State before and after Xmas These players made wonderful contributions to their rep teams and I am sure their club sides have benefitted from their experience. We will acknowledge them on Sunday at the presentation. At the recent BNJCA Stage One trials for U12 – U15 we had several more players who progressed through to Stage Two trials later in the year and I would like to wish them well.

We had three senior teams playing in the Warehouse Comp with our B1’s progressing through to the semis. Most of these players spent many years playing in the junior ranks here at the Hawks. Thank you to Lincoln Jones for all his efforts as the Warehouse Registrar / Co-ordinator. He will be busy over the next few weeks getting our Winter teams ready.

At this time of the year there are many people to thank as clubs of our size do not just happen. To all the people on the committee and their partners / spouses, I thank you for the countless hours of dedicated service. Eddie Mills has been tireless in her efforts with the Hawk Talk. Peter McFarlane has kept our web site maintained. Leon Marais and Francois Basson have excelled in their roles as Treasurer and Secretary respectively. Craig Grecian has always put his hand up to help out with those jobs around the club which get done. I would like to say a special thank you to my wife, Kathy who has been registrar this year as well as being the club statistician. Kathy has also navigated Albany Creek and Brisbane North through the new PlayHQ program. She has been responsible for the compilation of our trophy lists for today’s Presentation. Our club would not be the same without all her unseen activities.

The Ian Healy Cup was very successful again this year and I would like to thank Kathy Casey, Leon Marais and his son Louis for their efforts throughout the week. Thank you one and all.

A special thanks also to all our coaches and managers who have put in the hard yards on a weekly basis. Many of these people have been at the club for five or six years or more and their contribution has been invaluable. The fact that these coaches keep coming back says a lot for us as a club and is responsible for the stability and confidence that you as parents have in the care that they exercise over your children.
To all the parents who have assisted with scoring and generally organizing the boys on Saturday morning and Friday nights, I extend a huge thank you.

Our major sponsors LJ Hooker of Albany Creek and Acorshe Cleaning Solutions have certainly allowed us to keep our fees down and thus keep more children on the fields. We have several minor sponsors as well whose ongoing commitment to the club are much appreciated. Please continue to support these wonderful local people. Thanks for your support.

I would like to thank Cr. Cath Tonks who has been instrumental in working with the MBRC to get our two fields here at South Pine mowed to a much better standard. It has been a long battle and I think most players and supporters would agree that the grounds and surrounds are in great condition.

I would like to congratulate all those players who received trophies. They would not have received those awards unless their team-mates took the catches or stayed with them while they were batting. You are all winners. Well done! Thanks to the players for the way you played the games throughout the season.

Good luck in the months ahead and I hope that everyone stays safe and healthy.

Steve Casey, Presdient
Albany Creek Cricket Club