6 replies to this topic

[Caveman]

The 2008 Annual General Meeting was held tonight in the 'Meeting Place" function room at the Moonee Valley Racecourse.

Irene Chatfield- who was the human face of the Peter Gordon led 1989 Footscray Fightback was one of the nominees of Life Membership of the Club. She told the tale in her acceptance speech of coming to the Western Oval as a youngster that one day in the future she would become a life member. Her family told her that she was dreaming. Well Irene said that this dream had now come true.


Some of the others who joined Irene as a new Life Member were recruiting man Scott Clayton and current players Daniel Giansiracusa and Robert Murphy. It was joked that the strong friendship of those two rivalled that of Rohan Smith and Brad Johnson, it was even said that they looked after each others hair?! Life Memberships and the Presidents award was also bestowed on the not well known but still highly important match day staff and non footballers. Gary Zimmerman, Anissa Groves, Archie Salek, Kevin O'Neil, Alan Jackson were all called to the podium, although Gary Zimmerman was unable to be there. Some others were also not present to receive their awards in person, one sadly has a very sick father which meant he couldn't attend and receive a life membership.

Rob Starry the leading solicitor also was recognised and made mention of his Footscray credentials - and that he either lived or bought a house in Chatfield Street, Footscray just a few minutes after Irene Chatfield has been up on the podium! Another old stalwart Bill Wood was given a gong. If you have or are familiar with the YEAR OF THE DOGS movie/video/dvd, he is the bloke who has a bit of good natured banter with the star of the YOTD Pat, at Western Oval training back then in 1996 around the time Alan Joyce jumped/pushed. Pat and Jenny were there, as was Doug Hawkins and John Shultz.

President David Smorgon pleaded that the club needs everyone who is a bulldog to join up and become a member and both he and CEO Campbell Rose pushed the 32,000 member target again. Smorgon not happy at all in that Collingwood, Hawthorn and Essendon had got a foothold in the Western Region with their business interests which he claims should be exclusively OUR territory.

The new players were introduced some famous names there- Roughhead cousin of the Hawthorn Premiership player, the son of golfer Brett Ogle. Billy Picken, star of the 1970's Collingwood teams- his son is another recruit, then of course the one we all new about - Ayce Cordy the son of our top half back flanker of the 1980's Brian Cordy and it was mentioned how Ayce will be wearing number 49- the same as what father Brian wore.

Rodney Eade is very confident of a successful 2009 as was the departing Scott Clayton. The general idea was that the club feel happy with the way things are going but the 'UNFINSHED BUSINESS' came up in conversation and the club musn't fall away as history has shown it does after a promising season.

David Smorgon made mention that he was somewhat disappointed with the attendance for tonights meeting, which was a pretty fair call, definitely more there last year. There was probably less than 100 people in attendance and of that less than 100, over 40 would have been players. The footballers all in their track suit uniform. They all sat as a group on the left hand side of the room with the rank and file on the right hand side as you came in the door. So there was basically less that 50 of the 28,000 Western members in attendance and it was a unfortunate that there was so few there to see Irene Chatfield and others receive their recognition. It that a sign of member satisfaction or member apathy? David Smorgon offering that query near the beginning of the meeting and then mentioned it again at the end. Of that fifty, most were surely over the age of 50, not many young ones- those in their 30's AND 40'S were clearly the younger generation in there.

Only two questions from the floor , one was about the redevelopment and the other one I can't exactly remember. Neither of them were controversial or challenging

I have probably missed a few things- will add them later on should anyone want to expand on the AGM So there it was until the next one in December 2009.

[DMcG]

I had no idea it was on. I doubt I would have gone though, but if Smorgan wants ppl to attend how bout emailing us telling us it's on rather than "CHEAP XMAS GIFT IDEAS"

Is there an opportunity for members to ask questions?

[Caveman]

Yes you can ask questions when it is opened up to the floor (always at the conclusion). There were only two questions- as soon as it appears that no one else is going to ask a question they close the meeting pretty quickly. That is not just this year but any year and it would be the same for all clubs no t just us- perhaps the reigning Premiers (of each year) may be different as there wouldn't be too many complaints you'd think - but then that has only happened once for us in the last 84 years so we are not really familiar with that occurence

So in a nutshell, while supporters are entitled by law to ask questions at their AGM'S , they are not encouraged to ask questions- they would rather it all finish so they can go home. Again though that wouldn't just be here at Western- other teams would be the same.

The crowd are basically the same old stalwarts who turn up to games week in week out every year and never (or hardly ever) complain. They are all happy with their lot in life or so it seems. The old line of "It will be our day one day and won't I enjoy that when it comes" is regularly trotted out by these people.

Enduring pain and going without is so character building- that we as Footscray supporters must be the most morally, ethically and spiritually sound people in the whole of Christendom.

[Amelia Jane]

Good on her -she deserved it. She was great for the club back in 1989.

[Caveman]

Good on her -she deserved it. She was great for the club back in 1989.

Yes she is a genuine Footscray supporter as everyone knows.

Although I am NOT knocking players who receive them- footballers are paid employees of the club and maybe some might have been awarded prematurely, especially if they end up moving on elsewhere.

Irene Chatfield is a fair dinkum lover of the club. It's not like she will transfer her allegiance to another mob next year. She is here for life.

[Lisbon]

Her famous jumper and scarf were a part of the Eternity exhibition in the National Museum of Australia (see Eternity, page 8). The whole of Australia honoured her already, it was about time the club got around to do it! Well done!

[Caveman]

Her famous jumper and scarf were a part of the Eternity exhibition in the National Museum of Australia (see Eternity, page 8). The whole of Australia honoured her already, it was about time the club got around to do it! Well done!

Just noticed that- what a ripper

Irene's legacy lives on in museums- although she is still very much alive.