23/24 CENTER MANAGERS REPORT - MARC NIEHUS
I would like to start by thanking our sponsors; Stockdale and Leggo; PSQ and the Livingstone family; Alpha Designer Homes; WCP; Coastal Drift Home; Pizza Guardian/Galactic Donuts; SG Bakery; Zarraffas; Boost; Laserzone; Beefy’s; Grill’d and IGA Baringa. Without our sponsors we wouldn’t have our fantastic raffle prizes or our weekly awards. A number of these sponsors also do work around the club throughout the season and support CLAC whenever they can.
What an amazing season we have had!
Our club just keeps on growing in numbers every year, with more and more families coming to and joining our wonderful CLAC family. Thankfully, this season the weather was on our side with only three wet Fridays. We thank the weather gods because this is a big contrast to the last few years. It was great to have continuous competition every week and experience the full variety of our program.
In late November, we had a fantastic Open Day Carnival with around 600 athletes, competing from all over Qld and ranging in ages from 6 to 60. Thank you to all our volunteers on the day and in the lead up. These events would certainly not be possible without you and all of the hours of help you put in to making the day run smoothly.
You know it is a successful day when the LAQ Officials lending a hand provide you with the feedback ‘that this is their favourite carnival of the season’. That’s pretty special! This is our major fundraiser for the year, and it helped us earn about $10,000.00 for the club.
I would like to say a big thank you to all the Age Managers that help during the year and the parents who assist them. We are very fortunate for your help, and I know all the kids appreciate it as well.
One of the special jobs we have is the Tiny Tots Co-ordinator. I would like to say a big thank you to Jess along with Sophie and Alison and tint tot parents who stood in when needed. It is such an important job introducing our youngest athletes to our club, ensuring they have fun and learn some skills along the way.
Also, a special mention to the newest chef in our midst. I don’t think we can go past thanking Luke Castle for helping Brendan - the best in the business, on the BBQ this year. Luke, could have chosen to be at home or even just walking around while his brother competed but he chose to volunteer his time and help on the BBQ and I think that says a lot about the character of this young man! I’d also like to thank Brendan for the best burgers on the coast, he never disappoints and these are definitely something I miss during the off season.
Our canteen is also one of our major fundraisers, and I’d like to thank Donna for taking on this role again last season and ensuring those lolly bags were packed, the salads were ready, and the drinks were cold.
A big thank you to Leah as Team Manager. This is a huge job and Leah has taken to it like a duck to water and we hope she’s swimming for many more years to come. She had some big shoes to fill but I think she has certainly smashed it with the help of Chanelle as Assistant Team Manager. Taking our athletes to the State Championships in Townsville last March was a pinnacle to their season.
Our dedicated coaches Keith, Mick and Shane also stood up again this year, taking their time to train our keen athletes. It’s always rewarding seeing the kids improve their PBs over the season as the result of their committment to training. Training is a great way to learn the skills and techniques required to compete on Friday nights.
Also, a massive thank you to Nathan and Wade for keeping the grass mowed and the lines marked. Between them they would put in about four hours of work a week on the field. They do all of this in their own time so we can’t thank these guys enough. The field always looked immaculate and in top condition.
Once again, also thank you to arguably the two people who do the most in our club, Kathy and Leigh.
This club isn’t the club it is without these two ladies. It’s not just the work that you see on a Friday night, it’s the hours and hours they put in during the week and during the off season! And to my Assistant Centre Manager, Dave, I could always rely on you to back me up, help me out and have a good laugh – couldn’t ask for a better partner to lead this club.
This brings me to the Centre Managers Award for this year.
This was a very hard decision because I could have given it to so many people. But there were two people that no matter what we asked they would just say ‘yes’, ‘sure’, ‘what do you need help with’.
Normally, I didn’t even have to finish the sentence and these two would have already said - yes. So, I would like to say a big thank you and congratulations to Chanelle and Stefan for all the help and work they put into the club.
Last of all I would like to thank the athletes!
You are all such a great bunch of kids. At the start line of the track, I get to see you all and it doesn’t matter if it is the start of the night or the end of the night you are all so polite, display a great attitude and are so supportive of each other.
This is something you all should be so proud of because I know I can speak for all the committee when we say thank you because you’re the reason we do this and your attitude to CLAC is what makes it all worthwhile.
23/24 Centre Manager - Marc Niehus