General Interest Archives - Page 3 of 5 - Merewether Carlton Rugby Club

DONATE TO NOEL BURT “CHEEKYS CARNIVAL”

Posted on October 7, 2022October 18, 2022 by Merewether.6523

While playing rugby for Merewether Carlton against Maitland at Lorn Park on the 6th June 1987 in a collapsed maul Noel Burt ended up a C4-5 Quadriplegic.

Noel has spent the last 35 years confined to a wheelchair and his home. His dream is to be able to explore Newcastle once again in his own vehicle. We are raising money to purchase a Kia Carnival to be converted for wheelchair access for Noel.

Any donation big or small will help in getting Noel out of the house and exploring our great city.

You can make a tax deductible donation via our fundraising page on the ASF website here or by scanning the QR code on the graphic or on our social media channels.

We are holding a fundraising event for Noel Burt with a few tickets left, if you are interested in purchasinng a ticket please email to digital@merewethercarlton.com.au or for more information click here.

By donating, you confirm that your gift is made unconditionally to the Australian Sports Foundation (ASF) for the Noel ‘Cheeky’ Burt Fundraising Appeal project and you agree to the ASF’s Terms and Conditions.

THANKS GAULY YOU LEGEND

Posted on September 26, 2022September 30, 2022 by Merewether.6523

It’s not often this happens, and in fact we are unsure if it has happened more than once or twice ever in the history books at Merewether Carlton Rugby Club.

Our current P3 coach, Stephen Gaul, has recently coached his 200th game for the club and now is the perfect time to recognise this achievement – leading into Gauly’s 227th and last game as a full time coach of his beloved Greens in this weekend’s P3 Grand Final.

Stephen has announced that this 2022 season will be the last full time coaching year, and hasn’t it been a year to date. This year’s P3 team has retained the Minor Premiership they won in last years COVID affected season, losing one game and drawing one against Uni.

Gauly started his coaching career in 1984, coaching the 3rd grade side to the Finals after a very successful playing career, where records show he played 210 games in Green, including being a part of the 1980 1st Grade premiership squad. Stephen played 57 – 1st grade, 25 – 2nd grade, 59 – 3rd grade, 58 – 4th grade, 5 – 5th grade and 6 – C grade, from 1980 to 2001.

He made a coaching comeback in 1990 where he coached the 2nd grade side to Grand final victory and lost the 2nd grade GF the following year.

In 1994, Stephen was promoted to 1st grade coach and made the finals in his second year.
In his third year in charge of 1st grade, 1996, Stephen led the team to the Grand Final, only to fall short to a star studded Singleton outfit, full of NSW Country players and the Wallabies Scrum half.

Gauly came back to full time coaching in 2000, where he took the 2nd grade side back to the GF. He was again appointed as our 1st grade and club coach in 2003 and 2004.

In 2014, he came back to coach the colts team to a Grand Final.

Jamie Lind added,
“Upon being appointed the P1 head coach in late 2020, I sought to assemble a coaching team across the whole club. We were looking to implement a different structure, and a move away from the traditional assembly of coaches. One of the first calls that were offered and accepted came from Steve Gaul. Over the past couple of years, Steve has been a constant.
For season 2021, he managed to coach our wisdom squad, being the P3, P3.1 and Divisional teams, with 3.1s going on to claim the Minor Premiership.

In 2022 he got a break and ONLY coached the P3 side.
He has been a wonderful supporter, fair and diligent. As someone who has been attempting to change the style of coaching, Steve has been a great aid to the P1 and P2 Grades. Players moving up has never been an issue, and players moving back down have always been accommodated.

Merewether Carlton is lucky to have had such a wonderful servant. Thanks Gauly”

2022 will be a fitting end to a fantastic career of coaching, mentoring and pure passion for our amazing club. Past & present players often talk about hearing Gauly when pushing on the field and feeling the urge to lift.

On behalf of Merewether Carlton Rugby Club, we thank you Stephen, for everything you’ve contributed as a player, coach, mentor and mate over the past 40 years.

We look forward to seeing you at the games and spending quality time with your growing family. We wish you well!

Meet the Tresidders

Posted on July 12, 2022July 14, 2022 by Merewether.6523

BLEED AND BRED GREEN
In keeping with our Past Present and Future theme…Meet the Tresidders

Luke started with the Greens in 1996 in Jnrs and was part of the first Colts team in 2003. He has played all through the grades spending most of the last 5 years enjoying the social side of Friday Night 4’s. Luke is now Secretary and Board Member of the Club. Luke has played 160 club games to 2021 season 5 in 1st grade.

Luke has not been without injury, and he’s had a few seasons off through surgery, recovery following 3 ACL’s, shoulders etc. It got to the point it was easier to remove the ACL in 2020. All for the love of rugby.

Luke being the family man that he is has returned back to Saturday grade games so he can coach his daughter’s side on a Friday night. The Friday 4s boys miss their mate and main ringleader for all activities but he has slotted straight back into grade, even taking the field in a 1st grade match against Singleton earlier this year. This was his first 1st grade game since 2013!

But that’s enough about Luke. After 20 years on the sidelines being a WAG, wife Eliza Tresidder was coerced into a training session with the Women’s team during preseason and has never looked back. Eliza made her debut at the age of 38 on the hallowed turf of Townson Oval against Hamilton and loved every minute. Reports suggest that Eliza is now angry at Luke & doesn’t understand why he didn’t talk her into playing Rugby earlier.

Eliza has set the example for daughter Scarlett who plays for our under 14 girls team. This is both Eliza & Scarlett’s first season. Scarlett is 12 and has been playing Netball for Central. An excellent netballer she has always shown an interest in Rugby and jumped on the opportunity to play in the Summer 7’s competition this year. The U14’s Winter comp was a non-negotiable in the household and she’s fallen in love with the game. Scarlett has made lots of friends and is growing in confidence every game. Luke thinks that having Trudy as her coach has been such a confidence booster instead of having him scream at her!

Luke told us that “ The girls are by far the better players as they can tackle and actually run around the park.” Luke and Eliza told us that “Being part of the Greens community has been such a positive to our lives. It is like an extended family, sometimes we feel like we spend more time at Rugby then at home! We’ve made lifelong friends and look forward to being involved for many more years to come.”

There are more Tresidders in Gloucester who have or are playing for the club in 2021 & 22….

Adam lives in Gloucester has been playing Friday Night 4’s for the past two years and thoroughly enjoys the concept. He travels down for some training sessions though does most of his training on the hills of Nowendoc chasing pigs. He played for the Gloucester Cockies though missed a few seasons. He met the boys during the 2020 season when the local comp was cancelled and all the FN4’s clubs made a Barbarians side playing for the Cockies in the Mid North Coast competition.

Chloe Tresidder played in the U17’s in the Summer 7’s tournament and will be making a comeback in the winter comp once the Collarbone heals from a recent break in the schools competition. Chloe is a speedy winger who chases contact. Built like a bean pole and completely fearless. Sheridan Tresidder played in the 2021 Women’s team and loved her time in Green making great friends along the way. Sheridan is back playing with the Gloucester Cockies in 2022 though may make a comeback at some point.

Older brother Adam now takes the Tresidder spot in the Friday night 4s, his wife has also graced the fields with the women’s team in the 2021 season. The Tresidders are infiltrating and loving the greens.

RORY RYAN – FROM BALL BOY TO 1ST GRADE SCRUM HALF

Posted on July 1, 2022July 27, 2022 by Merewether.6523

Rory has been part of the furniture at the Greens since before he could crawl. He has been ball boy, mascot, junior player and number 1 supporter. Only son of Greens legend – ex-player, long time sponsor and die-hard supporter Pete Ryan, Rory was always going to bleed green.

You would be hard pressed to find anyone at the club that doesn’t know who Rory is and has fond memories of Rory getting around the Greens.

Rory played his first game for the Juniors in 2009 at 7 years of age and played every year in Juniors until he was old enough to play grade. Rory played rep footy from 2012 – 2018 with Wildfires and NSW Country Juniors 2017-2018, he made the NSW Country Colts in 2021. Rory then made his First Grade Debut 2021 v University (photo with Mick Gill below) and has been killing it ever since.

It’s great to see Rory’s progression from cheeky little Greens mascot and ball boy to not so little anymore 1st grade player!

Congrats Rory, it has been a great journey watching you grow at the club and we look forward to continuing to watch you grow.

From Jamie
In 2007 Merewether Carlton were first grade kings and club champs, Big girls don’t cry was a hit for Fergie, and Rory Ryan was 4 years old. Even at 4 he was a veteran at the grounds, ball boy, water boy, but mostly silly boy.

As green as Pete Alcock’s dulcet tones reading the score, a schnitzel burger or a try in green corner, this kid has seen it all. I’ve seen him as a kid, a teenager, a colt and now as a first grade scrum half. Many will reminisce of the good times and beers they have shared over many years with our own Rory Ryan, which in itself is quite an achievement for a 19 year old. Just like the photo (below), I’ve still got no hair and he has blonde hair, but the positions are swapped, and each weekend I get to see this great young guy out there putting on a masterclass and creating the next chapter in the story of Merewether Carlton. So keep being you mate, keep being silly, get Merewether Carlton back to the rightful place as kings and remember that big girls don’t cry. Jamie

GREENS FOUNDATION UPDATE

Posted on June 30, 2022July 18, 2022 by Merewether.6523

At its meeting on June 27th the Board of the Greens Foundation agreed to appoint Michael (Doc) Connors and Marc Knight to the Board of the Foundation.

Rob Monteath said the “Board looked forward to Doc’s skills in event organising especially regarding the Noel Burt Fundraiser and acknowledged his long-term commitment to the club’s players and its community. Doc has been a player and sponsor for decades and is keen to continue his involvement via the Foundation.”

The Board also welcomes Marc Knight to the Foundation Board. “The Board looks forward to benefiting from Marc’s experience in the mental health and wellbeing space and acknowledged his commitment as P2 Manager and his strong connection to the player body.” Rob said.

Rob said “the Foundation has an ambitious agenda ahead by its support of the purchase of Noel’s disability vehicle, delivery of club well-being programs, support the junior’s ambitions to tour in 2023 and further secure our use of and enhance the facilities at Townson, Gibbs and Empire. I think we have a board with the strength and commitment required to achieve these goals. We are confident that Marc and Doc will add great value to our efforts and thank them in advance.”