Author Archives: Claire Barnes

The 2024 Annual General Meeting has been run and done, and so now it’s time to look forward to the opportunities and challenges of the coming year.

Thank you to all club members and to the Committee in particular for their valuable contributions. We couldn’t do it without you!

Overall, the 2024 season was a successful one for the Newtown City Hockey Club, although there were both highlights and disappointments.

Highlights included:

• Continuing success in recruiting new members to the club, with members participating regularly in School Hockey Roadshows, Hookin2Hockey programs and Come and Try sessions during the year.
• Three successful holiday programs during the season for younger members.
• With the relocation of the GHA U8 and U10 competitions to Stead Park, the club was able to enter a team in the Stead Park competition, and still maintain a competition at Lloyd Reserve, with 4 teams playing each week.
• On-field success with Premierships and Runners Up finishes in the U10 Lloyd Reserve and the U12 competitions.
• Congratulations to Natasha Wilkinson – GHA Division 2 Women’s Best and Fairest for 2024.
• Club members umpired regularly for junior and senior matches, and interschool competitions.
• Significant participation by members in Hockey Geelong Sharks teams.
• Increasing numbers of members participated in Regional or State hockey teams and programs.
• Stage 2 of the Lloyd Reserve Pavilion Project commenced, which will allow increased use of the pavilion for club social events.

Disappointments included irregular availability of players and reduced number of members in some teams. Conflicting commitments with Melbourne based clubs is one of the factors affecting this situation.

Read the Minutes of the AGM here…. and Annual Report here…..

Thank you to the members who were elected to the Committee for 2024/2025. We look forward to making great things happen in 2025, and to and further efforts to provide a sustainable club, and an enjoyable and welcoming experience for members and families.

The Festival of Sails is a yachting event organised each year around Australia Day by the Royal Geelong Yacht Club.

The event is the major way in which the Newtown Hockey Club raises additional funds, without adding further to members’ costs. The race itself is 182 years old, and the Newtown City Hockey Club is fronting up for our 26th year of assisting with the event by providing cleaning and bin management services for yachting participants and the general public who attend. In return the club receives reimbursement for the time and labour contributed by our members.

Members are asked to donate 3 hours of their time during the Australia Day weekend. We would greatly appreciate the help of adults and older juniors. Family and friends are welcome too.

The task mostly involves wheeling bins to appropriate locations. It doesn’t require complicated knowledge or experience, just comfortable shoes and any willing hands. Anyone from the age of 14 up can help, which is particularly helpful for students who have community service hours to complete. There will be a major focus on recycling and sustainable practices this year.

We expect to raise $4100 from this year’s event, which is a significant proportion of the club’s annual fundraising target of $5000.

The event only runs for 3 days this year, so we only need 72 people!

A discount of $10 on 2025 Winter hockey fees will be given for each shift completed, so it’s a win for members and a win for the club. Plus the money raised helps to keep your fees down!

🙋 Able to help? Check out the days and times on the roster and put your name down here: https://signup.com/go/BLPjcoE

Members and friends aged 6 to 10 years are invited to join us for our Summer Holiday Program – Hooked on Fun!

Just $30/ child, so come along and join this fun day, and bring your friends too!

Get ready for an action-packed holiday adventure, filled with games, puzzles, hockey skills and lots of fun!

Previous hockey experience is not necessary and equipment is provided for use. Morning tea provided. Everyone is welcome.

Register at
https://www.revolutionise.com.au/newtoncityhc/events/269058

We would appreciate helpers to make sure that the day is lots of fun for everyone. Coaching experience not essential.

Check the details here and sign up if you can help.
https://signup.com/go/VhgrvnS

Club members and supporters are invited to join us for the 2024 Annual General Meeting of the Newtown City Hockey Club.

📅   Thursday November 14, 2024

⏰   7.30 pm

📍   Stead Park, John St, Corio

2024 provided the club and its members with some challenges, and we are very proud of the efforts and achievements of members and of the club itself.

Highlights include:

• team participation in GHA finals series, with Premiership successes
• ongoing membership recruitment activities
• Holiday programs for younger members
• excellent member participation at Regional and State level teams and programs
• strong financial performance
• commencement of Stage 2 of the Lloyd Reserve Pavilion Project

The Annual Report will be presented at the Annual General Meeting, and will allow members to see the strength of the club and the activities which have been undertaken in 2024. The Annual General Meeting gives members the opportunity to ask questions regarding the Club’s finances, the actions taken during 2024 and future plans and projects.

The election of office bearers and committee members for 2024/2025 is one of the very important actions of the Annual General Meeting. The incoming committee will be guided by input from the members of the club, so contributing your thoughts and asking questions is both an important right and a responsibility of your membership of the Club.

The Annual General Meeting is also the starting point for planning the activities and improvements of the 2025 year, so come along and give us your ideas. The General Meeting which follows the AGM will include discussions about the results of the Annual Review survey.

Supper will be provided.

Agenda:               Annual General Meeting Agenda 2024

Nomination for Office

Grateful thanks to the members of the Committee for 2023/2024 for their work, time and commitment – Claire Barnes, Peter Stuart, Ashley Quick, Chris Stuart, Brett Cleeland, Dominic Crowley, Kirsty Ayerbe, Hayden Francis, David Wyld.

We welcome any member who would like to volunteer their time, whether as a member of the incoming committee, or for an occasional role in the wide range of  roles and tasks across the club. If you have a few hours to spare each month, you might consider nominating for a position on the Committee, helping to bring members’ ideas to reality.  The Committee generally meets once per month, usually via Zoom.

Members are invited to submit a Nomination for Office  on the Committee of the Newtown City Hockey Club for 2024/2025. Nominations should be returned by Thursday November 7, 2024.

The Newtown City Hockey Club Rules  assign voting rights to fully paid playing members aged 15 and over. Members aged under 15 have Associate membership but do not have voting rights. Parents of Associate Members may choose to become members in their own right by becoming a non-playing Voting Member at a cost of $5.

Proxy Forms

If a member is unable to attend the meeting, a Proxy Voting Form may be submitted. The form should be received before the AGM begins on Thursday November 14, 2024.

Special General Meeting

The Annual General Meeting will be followed by a Special General Meeting. The results of the 2024 Annual Review survey and the actions planned as a result will be discussed. This is the opportunity for club members to contribute ideas to ensure that the club meets their needs and provides an enjoyable and fulfilling experience.

How can we make the Newtown City Hockey Club even better than it is at present? Is there some aspect of the Club which is not performing as well as you, the member, expects? Do you have a suggestion which the club could adopt to ensure a strong and sustainable club?

We would love to hear your ideas for the Club’s future actions and aims. Please join us for the Annual General Meeting and share your thoughts.

2024 Annual Review

Please complete the 2024 Annual Review Survey here.

We hope that all our members enjoyed the 2024 season.  But we need your input and feedback to tell us how the Club can improve the service and the environment we offer to members.

If we did something good, let us know so that we can do it again! If there are things which you did not enjoy and which we need to improve upon, please tell us so that we can put a plan into action for next year. If you don’t tell us, we won’t know and can’t take any actions!

We would love your suggestions and ideas to help us plan for a great season in 2025. Please submit your response by November 12, 2024.

Come and join our summer hockey teams for some laid back relaxed fun. Bring your family and friends too.

All games will be played at Stead Park, Corio. Competitions are 7 a side teams on half field. except U8 which is 7 a side on 1/4 size field.

Games will commence on:
Tuesday October 15 – U12, U14, U17
Wednesday October 16 – Senior Mixed
Thursday October 17 – U8, U10 and Masters Mixed (over 35)
Friday October 18 – Family teams (adults, juniors and beginners). Ideal for new players or those who haven’t played for a while.

Ages are taken at January 1, 2024, so junior players can play the same age group as during this winter season. If players are moving up to the next age group in 2025, it can be a good idea to have a go at that level in summer.

Costs are low, and there’s no training. Just play hockey and have fun.

Coaches, managers and umpires wanted too. Sign up here if you can help.
https://signup.com/go/PpDHrMt

More details and registration at
https://newtownhockeyclub.com.au/membership/summer-hockey-season/

The club fees to play summer hockey have been included in the registration process through Revolutionise Sport.

For members who have played (and paid HV fees) during the 2024 winter season, choose the ‘Player Summer – current HV member’ category and the HV fee will adjust to zero at the last page.

For members who have not played during the 2024 winter season, and have not paid the HV fee, choose the ‘Player Summer – not played winter 2024 season’ category and this will include the HV summer levy.

If you have any problems or questions let us know – Claire ph 0417 015130