Western Suburbs District Cricket Club Presidents Report
Hello everyone and welcome back to Season 2022/23
PRESIDENT AGM 2021/22 RECAP
Despite the weather and Covid, the 2021/22 season was a brilliant one on and off the field. On the field 3 Premier Grade trophies came home to Wests, namely Taverners T20 champions, U15 Paul Pink Shield Champions, and 1st Grade Mens champions. In addition, grand finalist Womens 1st Grade T20 (last ball loss on replay) and One day grand finalist 4th Grade, semi-finalists Womens 1st Grade 1 day, semi-finalist Taverners 1 dayers, semi-finalist 6th Grade, semi-finalist 5th Grade one day and 2 days: semi-finalist 2nd Grade one day.
Off field achievements and future developments include:
- The massive task of upgrading the lighting and extending the nets. The completion of the GMP nets upgrade with the run ups upgrade not far away.
- The purchase of brand new bowling machines, platforms and tennis ball machines to improve junior development.
- The new senior equipment shed which provides greater storage on site for our valuable equipment.
- A complete door lock upgrade with master key facilities.
- We had poor trade work on lighting upgrades at GMP but fixed thanks to Sam Dennien.
- Lease renewals and Memorandum of Agreements.
- New First Aid kits and defibrillator, thanks Nick Vellacott.
- The Chelmer Redevelopment is on track with demolition scheduled shortly and the establishment of brand new change room facilities, new canteen, public toilets, 6 nets under lighting and minor refurbishment of the club house.
- Established a wonderful community linkage to the Allison Baden-Clay Foundation.
- A wicket block extension at Chelmer and upgraded lighting. We are working through all of that now!
- A $150K grant to refurbish GMP2 that is underway.
To our sponsors. Thank you Motorama, Ord Minnet, Vincents, Ballistic Beer Co, VBR Lawyers, Back Offis, On Par, Grey and Grey, and of course MP Mark Bailey’s support, thank you.
SEASON 2022/23
The forthcoming season is going to be a bumper season with an early start for the Men’s 1st and 2nd grade new T20 comp in August. The new look draw compartmentalised the 1st/2nds season into T20 one day and 2 day competitions. The T20Max will have the ability to transform club T20 with all contracted players available, each club recruiting 3 interstate players in their 15 person squad. We welcome Ben Abbott, Chris Sabburg and Arjun Nair to the squad. The games will be likely televised on Kayo. T20Max will serve as a pathway to the Brisbane Heat as well as setting the scene for the new future in club cricket. As usual, our committee is already down the track on this and preparing our club.
Our AGM was held on 28 June 2022 with elected officials confirmed as follows:
President – Peter Frew, Treasurer – Peter Somerville, Secretary – Dan Maroske
Committee Members – Mick Varidel, Luke Donaldson, Steve LeFley, Bryan Malone, Pat Collins, Nick Vellacott, Isaiah Snell, Grace Harris, Jon Dooley, Greg Rowell, Meagan Dixon, Namit Trivedi, Wendy Varidel.
Welcome Grace and Meagan to the Committee. Great additions to the committee and of course Women’s Cricket. Special mention to Holly Ferling for her work on our committee, paving the way for female involvement. Holly has made the exciting move to the ACT to continue her career. Always a Westie and we wish her all the best. Also, Sam Truloff who has been contracted to the QLD Bulls after a bumper season. Sam established our administration structure in the role as Administrator. We thank Sam and will now be watching his career. We welcome Wendy Varidel who has stepped in to the role as our new Club Administrator. Finally, we congratulate Bryan Malone taking over from Mick Varidel as Junior Director of Cricket.
SEASON 2022/23 – CRICKET UPDATE
- All Junior and Senior Registrations are now open and early bird registration fee rates are in place so take advantage of these.
- For the Senior club members, if you require a payment plan, please contact Wendy Varidel to discuss. Please email: westsbulldogsdcc@gmail.com
Our senior Coaches have been finalised:
Men’s Cricket
1st/2nd Grade White Ball Coach – Nathan Dodd
1st/2nd Grade White ball Assistant Coach – Steve Paulsen
1st/2nd Grade Red Ball Coach – Peter Steindl
1st/2nd Red Ball Coach – Blair Copelin
1st Grade Captain – Paddy Dooley
2nd Grade Coach – Max Carylon
Lower Grades Coach – Pat Collins
U19’s Coach – Justin Frew
Lord Taverners Coach – David Lossberg and David Pamenter
Women’s Cricket
1st/2nd Grade Coach – Ben Maddox
1st/2nd Grade Assistant Coach – Tammy Cole
1st Grade Captain – Meagan Dixon
2nd Grade Manager and youth Girls Coach – George Seaward
Kirby Short Cup U19’s Coach – Naiya Varidel
SOME KEY DATES COMING UP
| Senior male training | Commences 28 June |
| Senior female preseason launch | Sunday 17 July |
| All grades training for full club | Week of 19 July |
| Lord Taverners practice match | 7 August |
| Men’s trial games for 1st/2nd grade men’s | 10 August |
| Women’s trial games | 14 August |
| Men’s T20 at Graceville double header | 21 August |
| Men’s T20 at Graceville double header | 28 August |
| Official club launch/sponsors/past players/charity day | 28 August |
Sponsorship Update
This season WSDCC has reached out to the community to engage with businesses and supporters to expand our sponsorship base which is all so important in the sporting environment.
I am pleased to announce that our major club and diamond sponsor, is VBR Lawyers. Motorama continues to be a major sponsor for our Women’s program. We are proud to be associated with these wonderful companies and thank them for their engagement with this club.
We will announce several more sponsorships shortly. For those in our community interested in participating, please see the link to our sponsorship portfolio below. We welcome entering into a partnership with any of our community businesses and supporters. This seasons T20Max is the perfect opportunity to get connected with several home games televised on Kayo.
The new innovation player sponsorship last season was very successful, and we are looking for players to expand this program. It’s a great way for your business to get involved with our club and of course follow the progress of our players.
CLUB CLOTHING UPDATE
Following on the success from Masuri last season through the Women’s program, we have negotiated a great agreement with Masuri for our clothing apparel. This comes with an online store streamlining our clothing needs and requirements. There are some great Wests supporters clothing items available.
WESTS SOCIAL CALENDAR UPDATE
Our club will be hosting about 6 major club social events which we are asking for the support of our members. Dates will be finalised once Queensland Cricket has released the official draw for the season.
- Club season launch/sponsors/past players/charity day – 28 August
- Club golf day – October
- Day On The Green – Oxley Bowls – March
Stay tuned for further information.
KEY PROJECTS UPDATE
Several projects are underway with the guidance of Mick Varidel Projects/Facilities Manager. Key developments include:
- Chelmer Redevelopment continues with some delays because of the building industry difficulties. The project remains on target, with building works scheduled this spring.
- GMP2 Refurbishment including irrigation commenced on the 18th of July following the club being successful in the awarding of a large Council grant. This will, unfortunately, delay the start of cricket on the oval but on the positive we will have a beautifully refurbished oval- which is well overdue as we all know!
I look forward to seeing you all at Graceville as we look forward to a great season.
PRESIDENTS COMMENT
After leading his team through an outstanding season in 2021/22, Pat Collins, WSDCC 1st Grade captain, has decided to hang up his bat and captaincy retiring from cricket.
With 15 seasons with Wests in Premier Grade and 4 overseas in his beloved Ireland, PC has been a great stalwart of the club. I was a member of the committee many years ago when PC’s name came up to captain our 1st XI out of the wilderness. Languishing at the bottom of the ladder, PC and Pete Steindl set about rebuilding the team. PC brought a new fresh approach to how we played cricket on the field. And what a job he has done! PC has three 1st Grade premierships to his name and two as captain with last years no doubt a sweet result given retirement loomed.
Reflecting on his career there are many standouts. The surprise decision to bat first in a 2016/17 final after one day was completely washed out was a masterstroke with the team responding totalling 466. This was then followed by the magic decision to take to the bowling crease to extract a difficult Jano Coetzee with a beautifully bowled half tracker to pilot WSDCC to a premiership in last years final. The extraordinary opening partnership with Snelly of 134 late on day 1 to set up a great victory. Hard tough cricket, managing the pressure of a home crowd and steering his younger partner to a knock that was outstanding. That’s leadership. As I said, there are so many moments, the injuries, the classic drinks repertoire full of cliché and water bottle squirting but above all the brilliant on field decision making and the full support of his men. A true captain.
PC’s record stands for all to see as an opener of note and strength, a warrior on the field and a key figure in WSDCC’s rise back to the top. A batting average in the 30’s, ten club centuries with six 1st grade centuries, PC is one of WSDCC’s best. AS PC said:
“The greatest privilege I ever had was captaining our club for 9 seasons. I enjoyed the many confrontations on the field with the opposition, the camaraderie amongst our side on and off the field and many beers that followed.”
PC played the game hard, with intellect and used all his talent, but above all he was an outstanding captain, true club man and an outstanding bloke.
It’s been a pleasure to watch these years PC, and we look forward to you continuing your involvement with this great club. Happy retirement.
Peter Frew
