Penrith Panthers

Junior League Manager’s ReportThere were a number of significant developments during the 2008 season that will nodoubt have considerable impact on our future operations. Perhaps the most major was are-structure of Junior League management staff and their responsibilities that will benefitour overall operation, particularly at club level. A new position, to be known as OperationsManager, has been created. Yvonne Purtell has been promoted to that role and she willwork in close co-operation with the Junior League Manager (previously referred to asChief Executive). An additional staff member will also be appointed as Competitions andProjects Co-ordinator. This extra member will work directly at club level, enabling theJunior League office to handle the heavy workload that increases every season.Financially, the Junior League has done well once again, with our fiscal stability beingreinforced by our major sponsorship with ING Real Estate and gold sponsorship withArnall Trophies. In addition, we have been able to achieve many of the goals we setourselves during our strategic planning sessions through the course of the last twelvemonths and we look forward to continued achievement and success with both our shortandlong-term planning.The first division ‘A’ grade competition with 12 teams remained popular with the clubsand, overall, proved to be fairly successful. Feedback and meetings discussions in whichwe have engaged indicate the same structure will be in place in 2009. A great deal of creditfor the success of the ‘A’ grade competition rests with the five clubs which so unselfishlypromoted themselves from second division. Those clubs are St Patricks, Colyton/Mt Druitt,Henry Lawson/Cambridge Park, Quakers Hill and Minchinbury.Playing fields at Blacktown were named in honour of Jack Myers, previous Chairmanand Life Member of our Junior League. The magnificent amenities block at WarrimooOval, funded and built by the Lower Mountains club, won that club the most outstandingachievement award. St Clair under-13 team represented our district and won the prestigiousNSWRL under-13 challenge. St Marys won three of the four first division grand finals inwhich they featured on grand final day.particularly manifest in the Blacktown area, whichis the heartland of rugby league in Sydney and ourJunior League is looking forward to and excitedabout continuing to work alongside both governinggroups. Congratulations and welcome to both GregMitchell and Martin Bullock.I must mention the impressive list of volunteersfrom around the 20 clubs who nominated their mostoutstanding volunteer, and congratulate Lin Falconerfrom St Marys, Laurie Sloane from Blacktown CityDon FeltisJunior League Managerand Russell Magennis from Riverstone for being named the ING Volunteers of the Year.Penrith Junior League also boasts eleven recipients of the ARL centenary medal: LaurieHupton, John Mergan, Bill De Manuele, Jan Cameron, Ron Clements, Jan Duncan, BrianSoulsby, Robert McLean, John Beazley, Bill Borg and Bob Malone. What a great honour,something I am sure these outstanding volunteers will cherish forever.No other rugby league district in Australia enjoys such a friendly and positive relationshipas the one that exists between Penrith Junior League and Panthers. The strong supportthe Panthers board and management have given Junior League since 1967 has cemented aspecial bond and a relationship that is the envy of other regions and guarantees our districtcontinued success in providing a pathway for all our talented juniors to make their waythrough to the NRLThe loyal and strong support and the level of commitment given to rugby league throughoutthis vast district by the Junior League Board, the vice-presidents, co-ordinators and all 22clubs is the principal reason why this Junior League enjoys the high profile and reputationit has. As always, I am looking forward to the next junior league season and I have nodoubt the challenges we will face in 2009 will be met with the same determination andresolve we apply to everything we do.The establishment of the Western Sydney Rugby League Academy and the Western SydneyAcademy of Sport at Penrith CUA Stadium is a positive reinforcement of the importancewith which both the NRL and the NSWRL regard Western Sydney. This esteem is20