Hurdling over the President¹s desk.

Hello everyone. Welcome to everyone for fun, fitness and family involvement.

The AGM is scheduled for Saturday 26 April. Everyone is welcome. I urge you

all to please come along. This is an opportunity to participate at Committee

level or at least have your say. I will not be seeking another term as

President. I believe that Committee positions should be rotated as much as

practicable. I have held this honour for two seasons now and think it¹s time

for someone else to have a go.

Parent participation is a key factor in any sporting club. Parents acting as

track and field officials, marshals, attendants, time keepers, place judges,

recorders, rakers, measurers, spikers, retrievers, cooks, canteen servers

and spectators are so important to running a smooth meet for everyone.

Without every parent pitching in on a Saturday morning it will be left to

the same few dedicated people. I don¹t believe that is what RAC is about. I

believe RAC is about everyone participating. It makes the meet more

interesting, more fun, completed faster and more efficiently and better for

the athletes who can see their parents involved hands on. The rewards are

self satisfaction, new friendships, new skills, a positive environment, your

kids smiles and you get a lolly at the end!!

Disappointing news that the NTA is not able to assist in the running of the

2003 Litchfield Gift. It means this event has been cancelled. I understand

that there was not much effort or interest from the NTA in staging this

event. A reduced program has been developed that will include a Junior

Litchfield Gift for under 10¹s and under 15¹s. Fred¹s Pass Show Management

has kindly offered to donate half the prize money and the RAC has applied

for funding under the Community Grants Scheme to provide the balance. Our

application received excellent letters of support from Gerry Wood, Peter

Maley and Karen Relph. However this funding is not guaranteed.

Tracey Shepherd, Cameron Brannelly and myself recently attended an Officials

Course. It was very interesting, all consuming, a little bit rushed with an

effort to cram as much as possible into two days. However I found the

information very useful. The presenter, Helen Roberts, was fantastic and the

group very sociable. We all sat tests in Jumps, Throws and Track. It was a

weekend well spent in education.

Finally a local Government organisation has kindly donated a number of

concrete seats to the Club. They are heavy, they are in Palmerston and I

need some strong volunteers to assist in their relocation to Fred¹s Pass.

Let me know if you can help.

Athletics: don¹t just sit on the sideline, be a part of it.

Cheers PH.

Fees.

Membership Fees for the 2003 athletic season are $70 for one athlete; $135

for two athletes $195 for three and then $35 for each additional athlete.

Rusty Rurals fees are $40 each. Registration is essential to compete so

membership fees are due now.

Important Dates to note.

Annual General Meeting will be held on Saturday 26 April 2003.

NT Cross Country Championships. Saturday 26 April 2003. Fred's Pass Reserve.

Lest we forget run. Sunday 27 April 2003.

Interclub Shield No.1. Saturday 10 May 2003. Arafura Athletics Stadium,

Marrara.

Fred¹s Pass Show Cake Stall. Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 May 2003.

Fred¹s Pass Show Junior Litchfield Gift. Sunday 25 May 2003.

Training sessions will be weekly at the Reserve on a Monday and Wednesday

from 5.30pm to 6.30pm.

Thank yous.

A big thank you to Debbie Kettle our outgoing Treasurer/Canteen Coordinator.

Many many thanks for the years of service on the Management Committee and to

the RAC.

Another big thank you to all the families that attended the Club¹s working

bee in March. Well done for the big clean up effort.

Thank you Brian Thetford for removing those painful shelf doors.

Thank you to Paul Mitchener and Ian Leeson for line marking.

Thank you to Daria Mitchener and Rose Gerlach for coordinating and operating

the Officials Table and Athlete Registration Desk.

Thank you to Elaine Holmes, Vice President NTA, our guest official last

week.

Athlete of the Month Awards.

This award encompasses all aspects of an athlete¹s attitude to the sport and

is not solely performance based. The Coach looks at an athlete¹s behaviour

on and off the track, attendance at training sessions, uniform appearance,

participation at meets, care of equipment and Club fellowship. Award winners

receive a Canteen Voucher.

Positions Vacant.

Canteen Coordinator. Operate the canteen, supervise cash tin, purchase

stock, organise a roster system of volunteer cooks and assistants.

Assistant Statistician. Rose Gerlach needs an assistant on Saturday mornings

to collate data.

Announcer. Saturday mornings, announce track and field events over a pa

system. Chair and shade provided. Great job for someone who likes to sit on

the sideline in the shade.

Fund raising.

There is another 100 Club Raffle on offer. First prize is a $40 meat voucher

from Quality Meats of Palmerston or Parap. Tickets $1 per number.

Housekeeping.

The new junior uniforms have arrived and are available for sale from the

officials table on Saturday morning meets. Junior athletes all sizes $25.

Rusty Rurals in medium, large and XL are $20 will be available soon.

Children (especially little ones) are not permitted in the shed unless

assisting with equipment removal or storage. There are many hidden dangers

in the shed for very young children so please keep those eyes in the back of

the head open.

The new Compaq laptop and printer is up and running at the Officials Table.

Results will be posted on the notice board during Saturday morning meets.

Place Ribbons from the Rural Championships 2002 that were not distributed at

last years Presentation Day will be available for collection at the

Officials table. Please see Daria Mitchener.

Interclub.

All clubs are invited to compete in Round One of the Interclub at Arafura

Stadium on Saturday the 10th of May from 4.00pm. It is a fun evening so be

part of a team and come along. Experience the atmosphere of running at the

Arafura Stadium. Build confidence and team spirit. Meet other athletes,

parents and officials. Competition is available to athletes from 6 years to

Rusty Rurals. All entrants must be registered. Athletes are required to wear

Club uniform. The Interclub program is attached. Entry forms will be

available soon from the Officials Table.

The Junior Litchfield Gift.

The RAC with the assistance of the Fred¹s Pass Show Management will be

conducting the Junior Litchfield Gift at this year¹s Rural Show. RAC needs

volunteers from club members and parents to assist in the running of this

great event. RAC will also be operating a food stall as a major Club Fund

raiser. So please volunteer your help as a track official, stall worker,

cake maker, canteen server or chief bottle washer. It is our major fund

raising event and all we need is a little effort from everyone. Many hands

make light work and the rewards will be a stronger, better equipped Club.

This needs to be a full Club effort. This a fantastic chance to promote

athletics and assistance will be required from all club members to make this

event a success. The eyes of the local Athletics world will be on us and RAC

will need to rise to the occasion to ensure this is a successful operation.

On the scrounge.

Can anyone assist with the following........................................

Permanent covers are required for both long jump pits. Any ideas?

Shade structures for field events. Anyone got something? Can get a business

to sponsor one? Got any ideas how to provide shade at Shot Put/Discus/Jumps

areas.

A lap bell for the long distance track events and race walks. Make one or

donate one?

Paint for line marking. Got any old tins in the shed at home not using at

the moment.

Sign writer needed to produce an all weather Events Board. Got a friend or

relative?

If you can help please talk to a Committee member today!!!

Rusty Rurals.

Competition for male and female athletes over the age of 18 years. The RAC

offers a track and field program for adults that incorporates fitness and

fun. So for all parents who wish to rekindle that little athletics spirit

they had as kids then join the Rusty Rurals. Maybe it¹s time to restart that

promising athletic career or just have a run, jump or throw with your kids.

Rusty Rurals colours are White with a Blue trim and black shorts. Athletes

from 18 years to 60 years compete in a range of track and field events in

designated age groupings and are eligible to compete in the Interclub

series.

Track events include sprints, mid distance and long distance runs and walks.

Field events include High Jump, Long Jump, Shot Put, Discus, Hammer and

Javelin.

Rusty Rurals: Informal, friendly and fun.

RAC Management Committee.

President/Communications Officer: Paul Harris. 89882252.

Vice President/Arena Manager/Public Officer: Fred Munro. 89881379.

Secretary: Daria Mitchener. 89327020.

Treasurer: Leanne Ladlow. 89832426.

Canteen Coordinator: Vacant.

Registrar/Statistician: Rose Gerlach. 89832314.

Fundraising Coordinator: Ian Leeson. 89323281.

Coaching Coordinator: Paul Mitchener. 89327020.

Coaches Assistant: Cameron Bannelly.

Club Patron: Gerry Wood. 89831302.

RURAL ATHLETICS CENTRE.

A.G.M.

Saturday 26 April 2003.

Fred's Pass Reserve

Athletics Arena.

11.00am.

Everyone welcome.

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