General manager’s update

Dear West Harbour Family,

Normally at this time of the year there is great excitement as each premier rugby club in Sydney moves towards taking the field for Round One of the Shute Shield Competition. All of the preseason preparations and trials become just a memory, and all eyes turn towards winning the ultimate prize in August.

Unfortunately, 2020 is shaping up to be a very different year. For only the fifth time in Sydney rugby history, the season proper has yet to commence, and there is a great level of uncertainty as to when it will. It certainly has been a time of great social and cultural upheaval for us all, and if the last few weeks have taught us anything, it’s that we all have to be patient, and support each other through this process. Now more than ever we have to come together as a community!

We are a proud Club with over one hundred and twenty years of history, who have been able to survive two World Wars, Spanish Flu, Great Depression and relegation into the Second Division on multiple occasions, only to return to Premier rugby stronger than before. It is the will and determination of the individuals who have gone before us that have ensured the survival of the Club until now.

Some have had to make very difficult and sometimes unpopular decisions. In the past month, the Club’s board of Directors have had to make some very difficult decisions in order to ensure the preservation of our proud Club. These decisions may not have been popular but they were necessary in order to ensure that we give the Club every opportunity to sail through the current storm, and secure its long term sustainability.

The Board’s decision to suspend the Club’s rugby operations in early March was difficult yet absolutely necessary. The Board thoroughly discussed the implications of continuing operations, and ultimately implemented the Club’s Health and Safety policy and suspended activities following advice from Government Agencies, Rugby Australia, New South Wales Rugby, Sydney Rugby. This decision was done so in order to ensure the safety of our players, staff, volunteers and our broader community in order to minimise the spread and impact of the Corona Virus on the West Harbour Family.

It has now been a little under a month since the Board’s initial decision to suspend rugby operations.  Over the last month the Board of Directors have also made the following decisions in light of the current situation;

• Significantly reduce the Club’s operating expenses
• Replacing the Club’s paid General Manager with an unpaid volunteer
• Reducing the Club’s liability expenses by;
  • Returning all off contract rented equipment
  • Placing all equipment and apparel orders on hold
  • Consolidating and reducing the Club’s player housing expenses
• Reviewing the financial position of the Club
• Undertaking a thorough review of the Club’s assets

While these decisions have not been easy one’s to make, they have been necessary. We do however wish to thank former General Manager, Amanda Babet for her hard work and commitment to the club.

Due to the imposition of the Federal and State Governments social distancing and isolation laws in order to flatten the curve and combat Covid-19, the Board has also made the difficult decisions to postpone or cancel many of its planned events for the foreseeable future.

Our Postponed or Cancelled Activities and Events:

• No Senior, Women’s or Junior teams playing or training.
• Our Season Launch Event.
• ANZAC Day Round Against Manly
• West Harbour Annual Corporate Lunch on May 29th
• Junior State Championships from June 6-8.
• 4th of July Double Header with Drummoyne Rugby

However unfortunate it may be, rugby operations have to come secondary to the primary concerns of people’s health, safety and wellbeing. As long as you and your family are safe and well, have food on your table, a roof over your heads and are able to sustain yourselves financially, that is the primary concern. For those who may be struggling, for whatever reason please reach out for help.

With the above in mind it is necessary for the Club to outline how we are moving forward during this time of uncertainty. Presently, there is no specific date that the Sydney Rugby Union, New South Wales Rugby or Rugby Australia are indicating rugby activities could recommence, any deadline imposed is almost certain to move.

The reality is that Club, Community or Junior Rugby won’t be back in operation until at least June, now at the very earliest and the Shute Shield and Junior seasons will need to be completely reconfigured. All senior district clubs are working with Sydney Rugby Union (SRU) on various scenarios to try and ensure that a viable competition can be created at some point in 2020, if at all.

There are many disappointed players, coaches, staff, volunteers, sponsors and supporters at all levels, now that our rugby engagement opportunities have dried up.

All the hard offseason work that Head Coach, Mark Gudmunson and his team have put in to prepare the various teams seems to have been lost. We all have very high hopes for the success of the Club this year but unfortunately we will have to wait until this storm has passed before we as a Club can demonstrate our potential. We are working hard to keep everyone going and checking in to ensure that they are OK.

We send our best wishes to all other Shute Shield clubs, especially Sydney University, and we hope that their two players who tested positive for Covid-19 are making a speedy recovery.

As a Club we are continuing to look forward and we are working towards possible events to be scheduled later in the year. We will definitely keep you all updated as soon as we can.

We definitely appreciate the generous support of all members who purchased a $30 for $30 membership in the lead up to the commencement of the 2020 Season. All memberships remain valid and a special members event is being planned for later in the year.

Regardless of the issues surrounding Covid-19, Canada Bay Council has set a date of mid-April for the Club to complete its move out of Concord Oval, to ensure that demolition and construction of the new facilities can commence on time.

The Club’s operations will be based out of the Community Centre at St Luke’s and a purpose built gym and storage facilities are being constructed by Club sponsor, Micam as we speak.

Whilst at the moment, we have nothing for our fans to support in a rugby sense, we would ask you if you have the means to do so, to support our sponsors businesses.

Please pay a visit online to these organisations by clicking on their logos displayed below. We thank them again sincerely, for supporting us in these uncertain times.

Take care, stay safe and look after each other and of course…Up the Pirates, Arrrrr!

Regards

John Abi-Saab

General Manager

West Harbour RUFC