The PAA is running an Administration Workshop to be held at Rydges Eaglehawk Resort Canberra for State Administrators/Secretaries and people involved in Zone or Club development within their States.
The cost of the workshop, including lunches and dinner Saturday evening, will be covered by the PAA. There will be a limit of 40 people (Australia wide), so members in our zone are certainly situated in a prime location.
The program will include:
Legal Issues and Risk Management
Club Management - Planning
Grants - Sponsorship - Fundraising
Membership - Retaining - Building Marketing and Promoting the Sport
Club Planning, Committee Management, Conducting Meetings
This Workshop is open to all polocrosse members from State, Zone or Clubs who are interested in attending.
I spoke to the PAA Secretary, Pam Coulson, at the Bungendore carnival and she advised me that there were still plenty of places left. This is an opportunity not to be missed and all clubs are urged to send a representative.
The final date for registration is Sunday May 12th To register contact Pam Coulson on tel 03 5267 2364
If accommodation is required, contact:
Rydges Eaglehawk Resort Canberra North ACT Tel 02 6241 6033 Fax 02 6241 3691
When booking mention Polocrosse Australia as a conference rate has been organised with the resort - Room & Breakfast rate $115.00 per night.
ZONE NEWS
Report on Womens Coaching - Umpiring Program and Chukkas under Lights
There is nothing more heart-breaking than going to great lengths to organise a coaching function to have very little response - or none at all. Proposing another coaching weekend in our Zone meant that we had to analyse what our players really wanted…..
THE WOMEN PLAYERS WANT A COACHING SCHOOL WITH COACHES WHO CAN READ A GAME AND IMPART THIS INFORMATION IN AN EASY FASHION (SO MOMENTUM IS NOT LOST WHILE TRYING TO INTERPRET WHAT THEY ARE SAYING). THEY DID NOT WANT TO SIT IN FRONT OF A WHITE BOARD AND BE TALKED AT!
The Juniors just want to play chukkas.
The men desired the opportunity to give their inexperienced horses a run in a non-competitive atmosphere and revision of the rules. While others just wanted to give their playing horses a "hit out" before the season.
SO…. taking all this into consideration the zone planned and executed 24 hours to suit all (hopefully).
Bungendore's autumn climate was kind to all those who attended the weekend of 16/17 March.
Forty-seven women participated in the "WOMENS COACHING", with four travelling in from other zones. They were coached by Jim Davidge, Kylie Goatham, Michael Gorman and Wendy Barlow. The emphasis was on "how to read the game play" while playing chukkas. Each coach tackled this in a different way, which matched the skills of the women. Comments from the women indicated that they achieved a great deal and were now highly motivated.
The coaches main message - PRACTICE!
The Junior Coaching was conducted by Jean Still on Saturday afternoon and on Sunday morning by Karin Stockman, the Australian Coaching Director. After three hours of coaching each by these two dedicated women, there was a huge difference in the juniors standard of play. The group of twelve consisted of some players who said "…We've been playing all our lives…." - to some very eager beginners.
Saturday afternoon David Sillis conducted an umpiring school. This addressed the rules and targeted specific rules. These included the cross within the five meter rule and the quarter swing. David was very pleased with the discussion which was generated at the school. The cases put forward were from actual incidences and all ticketed and budding umpires felt comfortable to either comment on or raise a query. The twenty-five participants were then given the opportunity to umpire chukka matches that evening and at the following mornings coaching sessions.
From six to nine on Saturday evening the "inexperienced" horse chukkas began. Approximately fifty-four inexperienced horses took to the field. The idea was that only horses that had never played competition polocrosse games participate, however permission was given by the Chief Umpire for horses that had problems which needed ironing out could also play. Both men and women grabbed this opportunity.
At seven-thirty the tower lights were switched on and play proceeded in the cool of the evening. With the milder temperatures suiting the young horses this could see the start of many talented horses in the future.
The Grand Finale of the day was the "hit out" of the regular horses under four tower lights. Again the cooler temperatures was an advantage. With eighty-three players wanting at least two to three chukkas each, the horses had sufficient time to catch their breath before they took to the field again.
Holding an event of this magnitude does not occur without a great deal of effort. We would like to thank the Bungendore Polocrosse Club members, Southern Highlands Polocrosse Association, the Goulburn Polocrosse Trust Fund (for donating $1200 towards costs), Paul Keir for transporting the light towers and Shaun Read for his expertise in setting up the lights. Thank you to the coaches for sharing their expertise and giving up their valuable time.
By all accounts the weekend was a huge success with the equivalent of 22 teams participating, proving the formula both popular and beneficial.
Be prepared for what we do next time…. Don't miss out!!!!
Janet Sillis
POLOCROSSE SOUTHERN HIGHLANDS STYLE
Polocrosse is definitely alive and well in our Zone. The first carnival of the season at Hall boasted 32 teams plus numerous subbies, Lake George's carnival at Moruya drew 28 teams with players travelling from Victoria, Hunter Valley, South West Slopes as well as the Northern Territory. Canberra's tournament slotted in 30 teams and 69 games over their 2-day carnival. Yass not only hosted the first junior test match between Australia and New Zealand, but also coped with 36 teams. Similarly at Bungendore where 36 teams competed on five fields.
However, the highlight of the Yass and Bungendore carnivals were the Junior Test Matches.
Spectators at Yass were treated to the awesome sight of the Kiwi boys performing the Haka - the Aussie kids took the fiercesome sight in their stride, however I don't think the horses were all that impressed!
The Juniors played 8 x 6 minute chukkas and the final result of the first test of 26 goals Australia to 11 goals New Zealand did not reflect the hard fought game between the two teams.
Prior to the final test match at Bungendore, the crowd was entertained by 14 year old Nadine Dempster who sang New Zealands National Anthem in Maori and then in English. Nadine's beautiful voice rang out across the polocrosse field her team was about to ride onto. This must have been inspiring for the Kiwi kids.
With the formalities over the match began. Australia took an early lead with 4 goals to nil after the first chukka. However, the next five chukkas had both teams scoring and defending superbly. The scoreline at this stage was Australia 15 / New Zealand 13. With only two chukkas to go it was anybody's game. A bad fall by Ricky Waitoa held up play for some considerable time, but after his horse was retrieved and he had been dusted off, the remaining chukkas were played out. The Australian juniors stretched their lead and won the second test 24 goals to 13.
The Aussies have certainly been put on notice however, the Kiwi's played very good polocrosse on unfamiliar horses - and I know they are looking forward to the Aussies travelling down to "The Land of the Long White Cloud" to exact their revenge.
Congratulations to the Australian juniors who played brilliant polocrosse. All sixteen test players were excellent Ambassadors for their respective countries. This was definitely a winner for polocrosse.
The teams were:
Australia
New Zealand
Ashlee Anderson (C) Kelly Greenwood Lauren Sibley Samantha Gleeson Abbott Grills Cameron Jones Scott Gurney-Allen Matthew Johnson Coach: Karin Stockman Manager: Toni Davidge
Selene Mullaney Krystle Peach Margaret Wenn Nadine Dempster Daryel Mouat Hamish Thomas Ricky Waitoa James Marshall Coach: Carl Mullaney Manager: Ken Malcolm
HOT GOSS CORNER
BURRADOO BABIES
Congratulations to Alina and Allan on the birth of their baby boy. Cooper was born on 25th February at the Bowral hospital and weighed a healthy 6 lb 8 oz. Polocrosse at the Canberra Show must have had something to do with his early arrival (he wasn't due until 19th March), so I hope Allan has a pony lined up for him!
Congratulations also to Monique and Nathan on the birth of their baby boy on Tuesday 12th March. Jack Cameron Phillip weighed 3130 gms and I'm told he is very cute.
And the boys still keep arriving…
Our hearty congratulations to Graeme and Cheryl O'Donnell on Lachlan James arrival on ANZAC Day weighing 7 lb 11 oz - lucky Lachlan, his birthday will always be a holiday for him!
A well known polocrosse personality bashfully admitted to having a "Senior Moment" recently. After parking his car near the Post Office, he tried unsuccessfully to unlock his P.O. box. After several attempts he realised his error - although his car was obediently locking and unlocking not far away, the central locking device would just not unlock his post box!
Have you seen the Canberra 2002 White Pages directory? The theme on the front cover is "Our Environment". Margaret Wheatley and Huntly's other co-manager, John Gale, appear in front of the only confirmed specimen of the Eucalyptus albens south of the Wee Jasper area. Examples of the landcare work being undertaken by Margaret & John include fencing of creek lines, revegetating corridors and buffers to create windbreaks and shelter-belts and protecting pockets of endangered woodlands.
Australia 
