Please Lend a Helping Hand

I'd like to thank Emma Raven for helping us out in the top canteen on Saturday. She was able to step in and run the canteen while many of the committee had to go to away venues to watch their own kids play footy. Emma stepped in and made sure the canteen still operated while we were away. Thanks to Cass Corey who also stayed down at the bottom canteen instead of going to Windsor to watch her son play in his game.

I'm pretty frustrated with having to hunt down teams to get two people on the BBQ. Usually it isn't the fault of the manager or coach. They have either asked for volunteers and received none or have rostered people on and those people haven't turned up. Depending on the size of your team you will probably only have to be on the BBQ once during the season - that's ONE HOUR in SIX MONTHS. 

It's also frustrating to see the same people on the BBQ every week. Although I'm very gratfeul for their efforts, I don't think it's very fair that they are covering for lazy people. I've seen coaches and managers on the BBQ before their game instead of parents as they haven't been able to get parents to help. This is not fair on the coach or manager, or your kids! The manager and coach have responsibilities in the lead up to the game and can't be expected to be on the BBQ as well as warm up kids and get team sheets written up.

I can understand that it is often difficult to go on the BBQ if you have small toddlers, are a single parent or have Saturday work committments, so we ask that coaches and managers provide a roster early in the season so people can possibly plan to have a grandparent or aunty/uncle come along and be on the BBQ instead. Often though, it is the single parents and/or parents with toddlers who regularly turn up for BBQ duty. All too often, it is the parents of our older players who fail to turn up to BBQ duty, preferring to adopt the 'drop and run' approach. It's a sad state of affairs when people cannot offer one hour of their time to help their child's footy club out.

Our canteens are our major source of funding but if we don't have the people to operate them we will close
them down for a short time until we have the help required. Stage 1 of our new building going up on the top field is due for completion this year. Although we received an $82k government grant, the final cost for Stage 1 is around $130k. Ensuring our canteen is operating and profitable is essential for all 511 of our players and the larger Emu Plains JRLFC community. 

I really do hate to have to write such a negative post as I realise we have a fabulous group of parents who offer their time and assistance wherever possible, as well as those who turn up for their rostered BBQ duty each season without fail. I thank all of those fabulous people and know that your good work is appreciated by the committee and the kids of the club.

To the group of people who just don't think it's their job to help out for one hour,  please do your bit for your kids.

Yours in sport,
Megan Townes
Club Secretary
E  M U   P L A I N S  J R L F C
Established 1967
PO Box 16, Emu Plains NSW 2750
Telephone 0423 512 848

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