ON the back of a record breaking double premiership season the Walcha Roos have added three more life members to their wall at the recent presentation night at the Walcha Bowling Club.
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The Roos and Jillaroos thrived in the first season of the new split tier Second Division to both finish minor and major premiers in the clubs most successful year since the girls competition began.
The tag girls impressively finishing the season as unbeaten premiers after beating Bendemeer in the final, while the men did it the hard way after losing the major semi-final, eventually getting back to Manilla to exact revenge and beat the Tigers to the Plate.
At the presentation night Jason Latham took out the top gong, winning the Robert ‘Truck’ Laurie Award for Best and Fairest.
The skipper and half just beat Lachlan Brown and Lachlan Laurie by two points over the season.
Brown picked up the Players Player Award after being named the Group 4 Player of the Year for the second year running, and has once again announced his retirement.
Laurie also went on to pick up an award, the Coaches Award, while utility backrower Ben Green took out the Brian Sweeney Memorial Award for most improved.
Club patron AJ ‘Cooge’ Cross said that Green played above his weight and finished the season playing through a busted hand.
The undefeated Jillaroos made a clean sweep of the Group 4 Awards, and it was the Player of the Year that again dominated the club awards.
Skipper Robyn Broadbent picked up the Best and Fairest and Players Player after leading her side into the history books, while young flyer Kristy Lee-Fogarty scored the Most Improved.
“It has been an excellent year for the club,” Cross said.
“We have never won a dual premiership.”
The mens crown makes it six for the proud Roos and also broke a 22 year drought after previously winning titles in 57,58, 68,75 and 94.
Ground manager Joe Partridge and BBQ supremo Michael Hoy shared the Club Person of the Year Award before a special presentation was held to welcome in three new life members.
Club President Peter Berry were joined by fellow club men David Green and Brian Smith into the exclusive club.
Cross and Robert Laurie were the only surviving life members before the night, with the new three bringing it to nine members, with Charlie Rowe, Ron Hoad, Brian Sweeney and Joe McMahon the other names on the board.
“The three of them have been players or coaches or both, as well as everything else they do,” Cross said.
“They have all put countless hours of work into the club.”
