THE Bega Bombers Aussie rules club has celebrated its end of season at a presentation night on Saturday.
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Forty turned out to share a few stories and laughs about the season over a three-course dinner at the Bega Showground.
Special tribute was paid to all the club’s volunteers after its successful debut season, organisers on the night said it “seemed foolish” to include a club person of the year as there were so many who contributed their time and effort to seeing the club develop.
Incoming club president Justin Welsford, who was named the most consistent for the first division, congratulated all the winners on the night and said he looked forward to progressing with the club next year.
Welsford said it was down to the concerted efforts and dedication of one man the club had even started, and, as a fitting reward, Alex Nicol was named the club’s very first life member.
“He’s someone that I am proud to associate with the club and he is someone we should all be proud to associate with the club,” Welsford said.
Nicol said he was proud to be a part of a close-knit club after it took a while to get started.
“Initial efforts to launch the club had failed,” Nicol said.
“And the appointment of Matt Fleet had been the catalyst for success, but every person in the room could take credit for bringing the club through a first season.”
Paying particular tribute to the senior players for their support of the juniors, Nicol said that “this was the sort of spirit that turned a football team into a real community club”.
During the evening guests were treated to a visual presentation of the votes for the reserve and first grade best and fairest tallies, the big winners were Cody Hazelgrove-Danvers in the reserves, while Adam Blacka took the honours in the senior line-up.
Senior coach Matt Fleet said it was obvious watching the count how rapidly some first timers to the game had improved during the season.
“If we can hold this group together and build on the skills the Bombers will be a force to be reckoned with next season,” Fleet said.
Blacka was also presented the club’s inaugural Alex Nicol Perpetual Shield and the first grade’s leading goal kicker.
Fleet said Blacka gave up a lot leaving the Tathra Sea Eagles to help the club.
“It’s a great achievement to have 100 games played for a club,” Fleet said.
“And with 99 games under his belt, for Blacka to come and join us when he was all but guaranteed a premiership is something else,” he said.
Meanwhile, Luke Kingston was named the rookie of the year after a stellar season with the club.
Kingston was described on the night as an “exceptional young talent” and the club hoped to see him continue his good form.
Nicol said the club will continue to develop the showground as its home field in 2014.