President’s Report 2023 Camberwell Petanque Club Well, what a year. Not just for its content but the speed in which it has flown by. Fascinating, interesting and exciting. And for those of you like me who may not recall as well as we used to, let me remind you of some of the highlights. First of all, let me announce that we currently have 124 members on our books. A 13% increase from the 110 at the same time last year. That makes us the largest pétanque club in Australia. Whoo Hoo! And we are still growing with enquiries coming in on an almost regular basis. And of those members we have gender mix of approximately 50% each way. That percentage I’m glad to say also applies to your committee.
The Social highlights throughout the year included: Happy Hour 17th September. Melbourne Cup Day, where many hats, a couple of sweeps, some Champagne and our large television all made for a great party. Simon Diaz from Smooth FM 91.5 gave us at least eight shout outs. What a sponsor! The Christmas function was sensational as usual with over 80 in attendance and Wayne Adams presented with Club Person of the Year award. January brought our Jazz and Shiraz night. Was there more Shiraz than Jazz? February saw Fish and Chip Friday. 28 separate orders. All Hot. All on time. In April we had the winery and pétanque tour in the Yarra Valley. Couldn’t get better weather or bus driver. (Many thanks to Greg Harris), or Tour operator (Thank you Kathy & Jenny) or pop up pétanque piste (Thanks to Helen’s Hill Winery). The French bistro night in July: a taste sensation with great input from JP and a hard-working social committee Cards on a rainy day has been introduced. This has proved to be very popular. Members who might have gone home early, or not turned up at all if the weather proved inclement, are getting together to socialise over a card game or two, maintaining that friendly cohesiveness, a characteristic for which the Camberwell Petanque Club is known. I can’t thank enough Marion, and Kathy for the amount of work, research and endeavour put into making all these social events the success they are. Of course, many, many thanks to all those others that quietly assist as well. It doesn’t work without you.
Competition highlights CPC hosted the following throughout this year: 6th Nov Triples, 5th Feb Doubles, 25th March Shooting Comp., 26 March Singles Champ., April Umpires Training, 21st May Triples Paul Williams introduction of the 5-game format proved to be an overwhelming success. It’s quicker and the prize pool is much larger. All players stay until the end to see prizes awarded. And players from the regional areas can get home in daylight. Other clubs have now introduced this same format as a result. Many thanks to the efforts of members who volunteer to prepare pistes, catering, cleaning and JP for scoring. Two Camberwell Petanque Club teams competed in the April Metro and Southern Region competition, with an outstanding result of first and fifth. Well done. On 29 April CPC hosted Mt Macedon for the Jolly Roger where we happily accepted the trophy as victors. The downside of this year’s playing calendar was the cancellation of the Surf and Turf friendly with St Andrews due to issues at their club.
Under our banner of Enjoying the Game the following points are of note. The permanent string lines have proved to an overwhelming success. As have the permanent scoring posts for all the obvious reasons. Thanks to Bob, the introduction of the Club ladder has added a great deal of interest. It also helps satisfy those more competitive members with their playing. Many thanks to Robert Pozzobon for his continued dedication in the coaching clinics. Always popular and extremely helpful as expressed by those that have attended. The format of Weds and Fridays of out of bucket and Saturday comp continues to work well. The computer program has been tweaked by Paul to correct some of those little anomalies earlier encountered. We are just about achieving the rostering so that openers (Day administrators) are rostered only once per month. The raking regime of the pistes continues, maintaining the pistes in better shape, holding the weeds at bay and making for a pleasant start to any game. And the one hugely overwhelming and very popular introduction to the play days is the music. Making for very much "enjoyment of the game".
Engagement with Council In September 2022 the club was awarded Most Innovative Club at the annual Boroondara Council sports awards. This award was for the membership drive in 2021. This year Camberwell Petanque Club are finalists in 2023 Boroondara Council sports awards in two categories; Most Collaborative Club of the Year and The Club Person of the year. CPC is very proud to have submitted Wayne Adams in this category. The results will be announced in September. CPC applied for and was granted Bronze Accreditation under the Council sports club accreditation program launched in 2023. Only nine other clubs are accredited under this program. John Ross appeared in the recipe cards for Council’s Men’s Health Week. The club participated in Caulfield South Community Centre for Seniors’ Week. Thanks to Michael Young for his participation in this event. The heaters, cooktop and hot water system have been replaced. New safety handrail installed at the steps. We enjoy very good representation and relations with the Joint Management Committee for the clubhouse.
Facilities & Major works As mentioned, stringlines have been installed to the pistes. On-piste scorers installed and made permanent. We have new circles. An extra six new seat benches have been installed. New matting has been installed at the stairs. Gardener contracted to weed the garden beds. The spare boules have been sorted by weight and labelled. …and the big one……Installation of effective psychedelic owls as bird deterrents.
Communications have been streamlined to a monthly newsletter, limited SMS, and emailed tournament flyers from other clubs. The club has a major presence on Facebook and our Website is updated, usually a couple of times a week. The committee enjoys direct interaction with members and has made a feedback button available in the newsletter.
Future plans New umbrella placements are scheduled to be installed on the eastern end of the games area, and all umbrellas are to be permanently placed in these and the existing areas. They will be secured and have protective covers. This means we can have the benefit of those facilities at any time needed, not just on competition days. Work for this is proposed in August. The timber borders to the pistes are also scheduled for replacement, beginning in September. I would like to acknowledge in advance, the large input to these projects of JP Ernst. A combined table and bench seating is due to be erected on the southern spectator side of the pistes.
Financial situation Although use of funds has returned benefits to members in many ways; eradicating play day fees, installing the string lines, new outdoor seating, social functions, new circles, and even reducing the annual membership to that proposed, we have in fact increased our financial position from last year. Much of this can be accounted by efficiencies that this committee have instigated in the way we handle competitions, our streamlined communications and close control on social functions, and exceptional financial management by our treasurer. In addition, the behind the scenes volunteering work by members has saved enormously in the areas of maintenance and general upkeep.
Committee I have been involved with a multitude of committees in my lifetime. Both within and without. Which is why, prior to last year, I said I would never go on another again. I would have to say this club and its members are blessed with this year’s committee. It has been my pleasure and privilege to serve with them this year. Thank you to all committee members. And in particular, I must acknowledge the outstanding work and dedication of our Club Secretary; Deidre. The committee are harmonious, cohesive, positive and all going in the one direction; for the betterment of the club. That is not to say there is no dissention at times. Indeed, I have put forward earnest proposals that have been discussed, considered but solidly rejected on good grounds and importantly without any personality issues. It is the members that make a club. It is those contributing members that make a GREAT club. We have a GREAT club and it’s not just because of the committee, it’s the members in the background that contribute in all manner of ways. It might be just showing a newer member a better way to hold the boule. It might the taking out of the rubbish. It might be washing dishes. Or any number of a myriad of things. Thank you all for making us such a great club. One of which we can all be very, very proud. I am.
President’s Report 2023 Camberwell Petanque Club
Well, what a year. Not just for its content but the speed in which it has flown by.
Fascinating, interesting and exciting. And for those of you like me who may not recall as well as we used to, let me remind you of some of the highlights.
First of all, let me announce that we currently have 124 members on our books. A 13% increase from the 110 at the same time last year. That makes us the largest pétanque club in Australia. Whoo Hoo! And we are still growing with enquiries coming in on an almost regular basis. And of those members we have gender mix of approximately 50% each way. That percentage I’m glad to say also applies to your committee.
The Social highlights throughout the year included:
Happy Hour 17th September.
Melbourne Cup Day, where many hats, a couple of sweeps, some Champagne and our large television all made for a great party. Simon Diaz from Smooth FM 91.5 gave us at least eight shout outs. What a sponsor!
The Christmas function was sensational as usual with over 80 in attendance and Wayne Adams presented with Club Person of the Year award.
January brought our Jazz and Shiraz night. Was there more Shiraz than Jazz?
February saw Fish and Chip Friday. 28 separate orders. All Hot. All on time.
In April we had the winery and pétanque tour in the Yarra Valley. Couldn’t get better weather or bus driver. (Many thanks to Greg Harris), or Tour operator (Thank you Kathy & Jenny) or pop up pétanque piste (Thanks to Helen’s Hill Winery).
The French bistro night in July: a taste sensation with great input from JP and a hard-working social committee
Cards on a rainy day has been introduced. This has proved to be very popular. Members who might have gone home early, or not turned up at all if the weather proved inclement, are getting together to socialise over a card game or two, maintaining that friendly cohesiveness, a characteristic for which the Camberwell Petanque Club is known.
I can’t thank enough Marion, and Kathy for the amount of work, research and endeavour put into making all these social events the success they are. Of course, many, many thanks to all those others that quietly assist as well. It doesn’t work without you.
Competition highlights
CPC hosted the following throughout this year: 6th Nov Triples, 5th Feb Doubles, 25th March Shooting Comp., 26 March Singles Champ., April Umpires Training, 21st May Triples
Paul Williams introduction of the 5-game format proved to be an overwhelming success. It’s quicker and the prize pool is much larger. All players stay until the end to see prizes awarded. And players from the regional areas can get home in daylight. Other clubs have now introduced this same format as a result. Many thanks to the efforts of members who volunteer to prepare pistes, catering, cleaning and JP for scoring.
Two Camberwell Petanque Club teams competed in the April Metro and Southern Region competition, with an outstanding result of first and fifth. Well done.
On 29 April CPC hosted Mt Macedon for the Jolly Roger where we happily accepted the trophy as victors.
The downside of this year’s playing calendar was the cancellation of the Surf and Turf friendly with St Andrews due to issues at their club.
Under our banner of Enjoying the Game the following points are of note.
The permanent string lines have proved to an overwhelming success. As have the permanent scoring posts for all the obvious reasons.
Thanks to Bob, the introduction of the Club ladder has added a great deal of interest. It also helps satisfy those more competitive members with their playing.
Many thanks to Robert Pozzobon for his continued dedication in the coaching clinics. Always popular and extremely helpful as expressed by those that have attended.
The format of Weds and Fridays of out of bucket and Saturday comp continues to work well. The computer program has been tweaked by Paul to correct some of those little anomalies earlier encountered.
We are just about achieving the rostering so that openers (Day administrators) are rostered only once per month.
The raking regime of the pistes continues, maintaining the pistes in better shape, holding the weeds at bay and making for a pleasant start to any game.
And the one hugely overwhelming and very popular introduction to the play days is the music. Making for very much "enjoyment of the game".
Engagement with Council
In September 2022 the club was awarded Most Innovative Club at the annual Boroondara Council sports awards. This award was for the membership drive in 2021.
This year Camberwell Petanque Club are finalists in 2023 Boroondara Council sports awards in two categories; Most Collaborative Club of the Year and The Club Person of the year. CPC is very proud to have submitted Wayne Adams in this category. The results will be announced in September.
CPC applied for and was granted Bronze Accreditation under the Council sports club accreditation program launched in 2023. Only nine other clubs are accredited under this program.
John Ross appeared in the recipe cards for Council’s Men’s Health Week.
The club participated in Caulfield South Community Centre for Seniors’ Week. Thanks to Michael Young for his participation in this event.
The heaters, cooktop and hot water system have been replaced.
New safety handrail installed at the steps.
We enjoy very good representation and relations with the Joint Management Committee for the clubhouse.
Facilities & Major works
As mentioned, stringlines have been installed to the pistes.
On-piste scorers installed and made permanent.
We have new circles.
An extra six new seat benches have been installed.
New matting has been installed at the stairs.
Gardener contracted to weed the garden beds.
The spare boules have been sorted by weight and labelled.
…and the big one……Installation of effective psychedelic owls as bird deterrents.
Communications have been streamlined to a monthly newsletter, limited SMS, and emailed tournament flyers from other clubs.
The club has a major presence on Facebook and our Website is updated, usually a couple of times a week.
The committee enjoys direct interaction with members and has made a feedback button available in the newsletter.
Future plans
New umbrella placements are scheduled to be installed on the eastern end of the games area, and all umbrellas are to be permanently placed in these and the existing areas. They will be secured and have protective covers. This means we can have the benefit of those facilities at any time needed, not just on competition days. Work for this is proposed in August.
The timber borders to the pistes are also scheduled for replacement, beginning in September.
I would like to acknowledge in advance, the large input to these projects of JP Ernst.
A combined table and bench seating is due to be erected on the southern spectator side of the pistes.
Financial situation
Although use of funds has returned benefits to members in many ways; eradicating play day fees, installing the string lines, new outdoor seating, social functions, new circles, and even reducing the annual membership to that proposed, we have in fact increased our financial position from last year.
Much of this can be accounted by efficiencies that this committee have instigated in the way we handle competitions, our streamlined communications and close control on social functions, and exceptional financial management by our treasurer. In addition, the behind the scenes volunteering work by members has saved enormously in the areas of maintenance and general upkeep.
Committee
I have been involved with a multitude of committees in my lifetime. Both within and without. Which is why, prior to last year, I said I would never go on another again. I would have to say this club and its members are blessed with this year’s committee. It has been my pleasure and privilege to serve with them this year. Thank you to all committee members.
And in particular, I must acknowledge the outstanding work and dedication of our Club Secretary; Deidre.
The committee are harmonious, cohesive, positive and all going in the one direction; for the betterment of the club. That is not to say there is no dissention at times. Indeed, I have put forward earnest proposals that have been discussed, considered but solidly rejected on good grounds and importantly without any personality issues.
It is the members that make a club. It is those contributing members that make a GREAT club. We have a GREAT club and it’s not just because of the committee, it’s the members in the background that contribute in all manner of ways. It might be just showing a newer member a better way to hold the boule. It might the taking out of the rubbish. It might be washing dishes. Or any number of a myriad of things. Thank you all for making us such a great club. One of which we can all be very, very proud. I am.
Rex Barker
President