'Bayside Rugby' makes hot topic this summer

Redlands rugby club chief Tony Machin will pay a tribute to "all our elected members" when he addresses the club's AGM. These "members" are the civic and parliamentary representatives he says are working hard to secure funding for a clubhouse and change-room upgrade. More about that later. First, here's the latest on another development as the club makes its mark on rugby in one of Australia's fastest growing regions, South East Queensland ...

Image courtesy of www.nicoletteneish.com from Redlands Rugby Union and Recreation Club website.

AN exciting plan to take the great sport of rugby union to a new level in the Bayside district is on the agenda for Redlands Rugby Union and Recreation Club’s annual general meeting on Sunday, December 7.
Spirits are high in the club after its senior side took the 2008 minor premiership in the Brisbane division-one second grade competition.
The Redlanders suffered a shock defeat in the semi-final to finish the year third in the competition.
With the achievement bringing a promotion to division-one first grade, club officials plan to field the 2009 senior side as "Bayside Rugby" in conjunction with the Southern Bay club.

REDLANDS chairman Tony Machin will tell the AGM that negotiations to clinch the move are progressing well, with the first matches set for March.
"The new senior entity will provide a pathway for all junior rugby players from the bayside to play at the highest level without leaving our region," he says.
The bayside plan ends a big year for the Redlands club, which Tony says has reached the milestone of full Queensland Rugby Union voting rights for the first time, showing the club’s development and strength.
He says player numbers have reached more than 400 and much talent has emerged.
Redlands backrower Edward Quirk was man of the match in the Australian Schoolboys’ 15-11 "thrashing" of New Zealand Schoolboys.

THE victory was Australia’s first on New Zealand soil in that competition’s history, Tony says.
He describes Edward as "hard, tough but fair".
"The harder the game the better he likes it," Tony says.
Other achievers in 2008 have included fullback David Harle, who represented with the QJRU under-18s against NSW and three seniors who helped Queensland Suburban gain a rare victory over their NSW counterparts.
The trio was: half Gary Blank, who was the man of the match; fly half Brendan Dales; and lock Mitch O’Hara, who is club captain.
The club’s Golden Oldies toured to Scotland this year for their world championships – "and caused much havoc on and off the field".

WHILE the administrators work toward Bayside Rugby, the club is promoting its seniors’ pre-season training on Tuesdays at 6.30pm and is also recruiting for senior and colts sides.
Head coach is Damian Watt and senior manager Nigel Brown.
Tony will tell the AGM a lot of work is going into making 2009 another great year.

• Thanks for joining me to meet the great people in the marvellous community of classified advertising. This column has appeared in The Redland Times, Cleveland, Redland City, Queensland, Australia.