Old Colleagues News – July 2017

OLD COLLEAGUE DAY 22ND JULY  (Yes this Saturday 22nd !)

Old Colleagues your attendance is required at Blue Giant Park for the games against Waverley Rugby Club. Should be a great afternoon with very competitive rugby. Old Colleagues will have plenty of memories of huge clashes with Waverley in the 1980’s. It will be a special day celebrating 300 games for one of the Blue Giants favourite sons Cam Ireland and I believe there will be an Old Colleague toast to him at half time in the main game in the clubhouse! Its also a tribute day to Dave “Goochie” Gooch after many years service to the club. (Walgett 1962 tour pic)

BGBN is designed to introduce current players to past players with the view that they help one another out – just like a game of rugby.
Everyone attending should expect to leave with contacts to have a coffee or beer with in the following weeks.

The event is limited to 40 current players and 40 past players. Price is at cost for current players and $10 premium for past players to help the event wash its face. Please see your accountant about tax deductibility.

BOOK BY CLICKING ON THIS LINK
//www.trybooking.com/QWGM

Venue: Tattersalls Club 181 Elizabeth St
Date: Thursday 27th July
Time:7:15 for a 7:30 sharp start and conclude at 8:30 but welcome to stay and chat.
Cost: $40 for players and $50 for past players
Special guest Will Davies of Guerrilla Sandwiches, Scope Lending
and now CEO of Car Next Door.
Disclaimer: Attractive woman in photo will not be at the BGBN breakfast. But getting a better job could help you get an attractive woman like this.

For Old Colleagues wishing to lead future BGBN events
Contact Club President Richard McGrath
Email: richard.mcgrath@kemosabe-capital.com

Since the May News plenty of rugby has been played, and watched by the Colleagues. In fact during the latter part of the Lions Tour many Blue Giants made the jump across the ditch and enjoyed the festivities. As a result there has been plenty of team changes during this period (plus some injury worries) and some mixed results have followed.

The Kentwell game at fortress Blue Giant Park against the undefeated Drummoyne was a disappointment resulting in a narrow loss after the Blue Giants were hammered in the penalty count and turned the ball over at critical times during the game.

Then the game against Knox (that usual park somewhere on the north side) where after giving Knox a head start of 17 points at half time dug themselves out of a hole to win with real grit, persistence and courage including a Rob Kelly penalty goal from the sideline right on the bell 20-19 !!

And finally last Saturday facing a very committed St Pats side at never that friendly Hudson Park (with a couple of islander stars being a nuisance as usual ), finding themselves behind on the score board on most occasions throughout the game until Rob Kelly again stepped up on cue right on the bell to knock one over again from the sideline and 40 metres out! The ball from that kick was in the air for an eternity and the Colleagues crowd went berserk when it found its mark !

 

Plenty of Old Colleagues were on tour stimulating the NZ economy following the Lions around Simon Clark, Toby Rakison, G Hudson, Tim Henry, Alex Thompson, Michael Langford were seen raising a glass or three in the shaky isles. They almost got the win, but no doubt there was a good time had by all!

I always say if you need a strong man to do a job you can count on a front rower, even if its counting the beat and marching in time. 80’s premiership winning prop and man of many talents Andrew Draper has got the job of keeping time on the bass drum for the Manly Warringah Pipes & Drums as they go round with the best bands in the world in the Basel Military Tattoo, Switzerland  21st – 29th July. “Drapes” son Jack is one of the lead pipers, its a great story and will be a great thrill for both of them.

Old Colleague Celebrates in Style
Stue McCure (Coach of the Colleagues fighting fives, Sutherland Cup 1994 premiership team, (insert full story here ) celebrated his 50th birthday in style with a knees up in the South of Italy at place called Siena near Florence. Pictured here with Kate his much better looking better half at Centro Ippico Borgo di Castelvechio. Apparently (via Mick Boyd “Boydie”) Stewfest ended with everyone in the pool dancing to ABBA!! (what stays on tour! but briefly Boydie said “why did I book a nice room”, didn’t sleep most of the time!!)

Andrew Brazier noted 2000’s Blue giant goal kicker is kicking goals in the old US of A. Based in Chicago Braz is the McDonald’s worldwide supply chain management Director. This week the popular Blue Giant from the central west of NSW found himself playing with none other than the 2006 US Open winner Geoff Olgilvy in the John Deere Pro Am, (pre PGA Event) Silvis Rock Island County, Illinois. I’d say a nervous tee off for Braz and a far cry from lining a penalty kick up at Blue Giant Park.

Continuing the Speedos from far (and wide) Series

Goochie is looking a great big Blue Giant in his Colleagues speedos taken earlier this year at Byron Bay.

Goochie will be manning the Merchandise department on Old Colleagues Day with plenty of great Colleagues gear available.

See you Saturday

I’m going the early crow on the weather for this weekend. Its looking clear and perfect for rugby (unlike last years efforts). Wipe those Waratah game memories away by watching some Blue Giant winning rugby on Saturday.

“Go the Colleagues”

Boothie