No. 3, 29 April 2024
Dear
We're now four weeks into the season and coming off a perfect weekend where all teams playing enjoyed victories. The Premier Men and Internationals remain unbeaten on the season and the culture continues to build across the club. We're excited to share with you a flavour of the past month and look forward to bringing our community together on our new Club Day on 11 May.
While rugby often builds 'brotherhood' amongst teams, Marist St Pats has a long tradition of blood brothers playing for the club and 2024 is no exception. We caught up with the Whitman, Aukusitino and Meredith siblings to hear what they love about playing with their brothers... >>>
The 1997 Jubilee Cup winner John McBeth has recently completed over 20 years of service to the Australian Defence and has returned to his beloved Marist St Pats. He wanted to recognise the impact Marist St Pats has had on his life by sharing his medals and his story with the club... >>>
It's affectionately known as Old Timers Day, our new Club Day is a celebration of our past, present and future. Whether you're an Old Timer, sideline supporter or former social grade toiler; a junior player or a Jubilee Cup winner - we want you to join us for Club Day on 11 May.
We've got a big day of events planned, including lots for our Juniors and families at Evans Bay on 11 May. Be sure to wear our club colours - we would love to see Evans Bay as a sea of red!... >>>
The Evans Bay faithful have been buzzing about the new first-five in town as Rique Miln has been impressive over the opening weeks of the Swindale Shield. We caught up with Rique to help introduce him to members... >>>
Photo: Caroline Lewis
Over the past few years we've been livestreaming our Premier home games on Facebook, with audiences tuning in from around the world (including Tim Kennard from Tonga last week, pictured). Another keen follower is Brian Coulter, who shared some thoughts after Saturday's game... >>>
The installation of the new Evans Bay Park lighting has started with assistance from some great club members. This week we are hoping to have all electrical connections completed and the calibration of light fittings dialled in for practice sessions... >>>
Another project underway to improve facilities for our players is the manufacture of new reserves benches for Evans Bay Park. We're looking for sponsors or donors to support this project... >>>
Along with our major sponsors Natoli Ltd, Higgins Concrete and SWP Commercial, these sponsors make a big contribution that helps us continue to develop young players and build our community. Along with their logos on the back of the Premier jerseys, they are recognised at our Clubrooms with this new Sponsors Board... >>>
After the first round of the season Club President John Spillane thought he would share some musings the following Monday. Three week's on it's become a regular segment by popular demand. Read John's latest musings... >>>
Marist St Pats has been fortunate to receive some great offers from the Hurricanes and Huffer to share with club members... >>>
11 May: Club Day (formerly known as Old Timers Day)
12 May: Club Mass at St Patrick's Parish, Kilbirnie
17 May: Shamrock Club Launch at Sky Stadium
1 June: J6 and Reserve 3 Reunion over King's Birthday (and Horan-Millar Trophy)
22 June: Shamrock Club Day - Prematch function for Marist St Pats v Old Boys-University game at Evans Bay Park
22 June: Kiwiana Party at the Clubrooms
Around the traps
Congratulations to Monica Tagoai and Marcelle Parkes who have earned Black Ferns contracts this year. Both were longtime members of last years champion Premier Women's team... Netball is back at Marist St Pats again in 2024 with two teams competing in the local competitions. Both sides got wins in their first games of the season on Saturday... Happy Birthday to Brian McGuinness who turned 75 last week!... Former Club Captain, Mike Renouf, also celebrated a milestone 50th birthday with a family trip to the Gold Coast... Last weekend we farewelled Eamon Carr, the big Premier lock who has made a significant impact this year since transferring from Tawa (returning to his junior club), he is off to Australia with his partner, and we presented him with some Club cufflinks and wished them all the best with this next adventure... We have enjoyed having more former players sharing their insights with our players; a couple of weeks ago we had former Jubilee Cup winner and Wellington Lion Elton Moncrieff spend time with our Colts at training... The Island Bay community has been a big contributor to Marist St Pats over the years and when Sean Horan, one of the Bay's favourite sons, returned after a 20+ year absence to run the 2024 rugby programme at the Club, it seemed logical that we reach out to this community. On Wednesday 10 April the Marist St Pats clubrooms 'moved' to the Island Bay Bowling Club for a night as we hosted a great crowd of Island Bay locals and club faithful...
Financially, Marist St Pats relies on sponsorship and members subscriptions in order to provide our community with the facilities to train, play and congregate as a club.
If you are in a position to support Marist St Pats as a financial member or with a donation, this will help ensure we can provide the same facilities and support to our community in years to come... >>>
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