Driven by President Matt Lowe and life member and club legend Peter Ades, the displays celebrate our ... star ruckman Pe
News beach JUNE 2018
Chief Editor Brad Kingsbury -
[email protected]
BONBEACH HISTORY ON SHOW The history and success of sporting achievements at Bonbeach will be proudly on show for all when our Sports Museum is launched during Past Players Day on Saturday, 30 June.
A key part of the formation and ongoing development of the Bonbeach Sports Club, the Sports Museum will feature pictures and memorabilia dating back to the club’s formation in 1962.
Driven by President Matt Lowe and life member and club legend Peter Ades, the displays celebrate our heritage and the people and events that shaped the modern club and culture.
“Without our history we are nothing,” says Peter. “This is the roots of our club and the young blokes coming through today should be learning about it because it’s why the club exists and what we are all about.” "We’ve got our three (senior) premiership cups in 1979, 1982 and 1984 but it goes back to when we played out of a tin shed in the 70s, and even further to the old portable Army sheds in the beginning.”
Peter, whose father Brian was among a core group of dedicated and loyal administrators that led the club for more than two decades, said the work and commitment of volunteers and after the formation of the club deserved acknowledgment. “The club goes back to Harry Wilmott who was the local mayor of Chelsea and became our first president. We’ve had so many local people who helped make the club the best it could be since then and I want everyone here now to be able to raise a glass to them,” he said.
Among others, the display will pay homage to Bonbeach royalty including legendary coach Max King, star ruckman Peter ‘Bunse’ Salter, league champion goal kickers Trevor McLean and George Gorozidis, sublimely skilled midfielder Scott McLean and modern day hero Shane McDonald.
SPONSOR OF THE MONTH
We love sponsors that go the extra mile. Bonbeach locals, Husband and wife team Brian and Kristy typify the special contributions many businesses make to their local sports club. Since joining the club in 2015 Brian and Kristy continue to support all Bonbeach events and are often seen rallying their friends to games and promoting the good work our club does. Dynamic glass has offered various employment opportunities to players and most recently provided all the glass shelves and doors to our recently completed trophy cabinets. Dynamic glass specialises in all types of glass including shower screens, mirrors, splashbacks and pool balustrades. They pride themselves on quality and quick turnaround…so its not only done right, its done fast. A growing local business we encourage all Bonbeach Sponsors, members and followers to get behind those that support us. Dynamic Glass goes above and beyond for our club and we thank them for their continued sponsorship in 2018. Contact Brian now on 0418 304 332 or visit www.dynamicglass.com.au.
Exciting times ahead for our netball girls with the new courts underway! The Bonny Ball! A great night out for all who attended. Held at Sunny Boy Beach Club in Mordialloc a fantastic venue. Great to see Jacko sole back playing footy after a long stint on the side lines! No doubt in a few weeks he will be RUNNING HOT.
Sadly we say goodbye FOR NOW to Tarna who has been with the training staff for the last 6 years. Everyone at BFNC, especially the playing group would like to say a huge thank you and wish "T" safe travels and we hope to hear and see from her soon! Kenny sole registering and putting his hand up to play in the twos against Pines and not being selected! Come on Corey give the young fella a go!! Players who decide to go away in footy season!! Not naming names..... JACK WILLIAMS!
ANOTHER DAY AT THE OFFICE FOR SMITHY Between organising the barbeque, filling up water bottles, finding some socks for a reserves player and setting up the video, senior Team Manager Paul ‘Smithy’ Smith found 10 minutes to chat about his life at Shark Park.
This year sees Smithy celebrate 25 years of involvement with Bonbeach, after coming to work in ‘the big smoke’ from Cobden in the western districts as a 21 year-old. It did not take Smithy long to find build a connection with Bonbeach saw him progress from player committeeman to junior coach progress to be acknowledged as the AusKick Coordinator of the Year.
and that to and AFL
He smiles and plays down his journey, but there is no denying that it’s been a two-way affair of the heart that continues today.
“I worked on the dairy farm down home and then at Bonlac in Cobden before coming down in Year 12 to work at Pura. I had a year at Doveton because (former Cobden coach and Sydney Swan) Gary Frangalas was coaching there but ‘Jigger’ Ferguson kept at me to come down so the next year I came to Bonbeach. And I’m still here,” he laughed. Smithy was your typical short, nuggetty country boy who could find the footy but also find trouble in the form of injuries and a short fuse. All up he played around 40 reserves games and four senior games before persistent knee trouble forced him to retire relatively early.
“My first senior game was under (coach) Dave Putamorsi against Keysborough here at Bonny and I kicked a goal so that was memorable. I missed 18 months after a knee reconstruction in 1994-95 but I came back and played seniors again but my knee never fully recovered.” In relation to his Tuesday evening visits to Kananook, he just smiled. “Let’s just say that when the prescribed penalties came in it suited me to a tee!”
Smithy’s off-field influence has been significant for both Bonbeach and Bonbeach YCW juniors. He joined the BFC committee in his playing days and then took the local AusKick reigns in 2006 after his son Patrick started playing. He spent 12 years in the Coordinator role and built numbers to record levels, culminating in his recognition as the state’s Coordinator of the year in 2010.
He also coached the YCW Under 9s for nine years to help bring the kids from Auskick through.
“I wanted to keep them playing for Bonbeach rather than heading anywhere else. They knew me and I always got on well with the kids,” he said. “My biggest highlight is seeing kids I’ve coached playing out here for the Under 19s and seniors now. It’s very rewarding.” All up Smithy has spent more than a decade on the senior committee and filled most roles that required any work.
“I’ve been club registrar and done the social media for five years and I suppose you could call me Operations Manager of sorts.”
Club legend Paul 'Smithy' Smith “I really love just seeing the club grow from the kids that have come through. Seeing where the club’s at now after where we were in 1995 when the club was looking at folding, it’s a tremendous effort.” Like all at the club, Smithy would love to win a premiership, but he says it’s not just about that. “Developing the kids to be good people and a good club culture is always the aim. If we get a flag on the way it will be a bonus. I’d be happy with that bonus.” What the gang reckons:
As acknowledged above, Smithy is larger than life around Bonbeach, so we thought it would be worth asking a few of his biggest fans for a few kind words… that probably backfired a little in hindsight: Owen – “He’s always pestering me for money for merchandise or something, bit of a pain really.” Sykesy – “Softest Bikey you’ve ever seen!”
Hughesy – “He knows how to whinge when it comes to memory cards – gets the shits with me all the time.”
Books – “He thinks he’s the boss at Bully’s yard and apparently works on the old ‘one for you – one for me’ system when someone pays cash.”
Tangles – “When he was playing, he had his own seat at the tribunal and knew them all by first name… we had some long nights.” Hoges – “Smithy lived in Andy Stephens’ house rent-free for 10 years… he thought rent was optional.”
Boxy – “He’s had more possessions collecting the balls during training than he ever did in his career.” Carps – “He needs more data on his phone because he spends so much time on ‘Bumble’.” They all love you Smithy… really, they do.
