📅 Sunday, 30 March 2025
📍 Blaxland Room West, Wenty Leagues Club
🕕 6:00 PM – 9:30 PM

Welcome and Opening Remarks

The evening began with a warm welcome and acknowledgment of special guests including Wenty Leagues Club President Ian McCann. Ian congratulated our committee on another successful year and spoke of the Club’s continuing investment in our facilities. This included:

• The first phase of the new gaming area officially handed over that night, with 230 machines relocated for public opening the following morning.
• Improved accessibility via a new ramp into the Starlight Room and an upcoming foyer redesign to enhance comfort during seasonal weather.
• An upgraded bowling green with new carpet and general improvements.
• The Precinct Project exploring aged care, hotel and indoor sports development.

Evening Overview

• Entrée: Cold Seafood Plate or Spinach & Ricotta Ravioli
• Mains: 12hr Slow Braised Lamb Shoulder o& Prosciutto Wrapped Chicken Breast.
• Complimentary drink vouchers and a tea/coffee station
• Multiple awards and presentations, Group photos
• A memorable Legends of the Court interview
• Prize draws and closing acknowledgments

Service Awards

Treasurer Danny Hedges joined me on stage to present milestone service awards to the following dedicated members, who collectively, represent 200 years of membership—and all are still competing!

• 10 Years: Linda Cortese, Katie Totaro
• 20 Years: Wally Elazzi (in attendance), Chris Mitrovich & Yeu Pham (absent)
• 35 Years: Rob Spooner
• 40 Years: Trevor Ryan (in attendance), Brett Davis (absent)

Autumn Pennant 2024 Presentations

Presented by Rob Cole

Division 1: Wenty 1 defeated Wenty 3, 6–5 (highlights)
🏆 Doug Vanderfield Memorial Shield
🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Team: Peter Bastow (C), Lyndal Amer, Michelle Lowe, Barry Davis & Tim Doyle

Division 2: Wenty 7 defeated Wenty 5, 7 games all (172–167) (highlights)
🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Team: Phi Dao (C), Trevor Ryan, Medhi Hakimi & Grant Augustin

Division 3: Premier 3 defeated Wenty 12, 6–2 (highlights)

Division 4: Wenty 15 defeated Wenty 16, 6–4 (highlights)
🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Team: Monica Rigby (C), Annette Hopkins, John Granata & Emily Yates

Spring Pennant 2024 Presentations

Presented by Trevor Ryan

Division 1: Wenty 1 defeated Wenty 2, 9–1 (highlights)

🏆 Doug Vanderfield Memorial Shield
🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Team: Peter Bastow (C), Lyndal Amer, Barry Davis & Tim Doyle

Division 2: Wenty 8 defeated Wenty 7, 7–5 (highlights)
🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Team: Sam Farrugia (C), Leigh Ditu, Roslyn Doyle & Paul Gergis

Division 3: Wenty 10 stunned Premier 3 in an upset, 8–6 (highlights)
🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Team: Gillian Kirby, Tabitha Bratton, Jag Virothi & Thanh Trung

Division 4: Wenty 14 defeated Wenty 13, 6–2 (highlights)
🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Team: Wendy Fox (C), Irene Gilbert, Linda Cortese, Mario Cristi

Point Score Award – 2024

Presented by Sharon Irwin (daughter of Elwyn Griffiths)

🏆 Elwyn Griffiths Memorial Trophy

• 🥉 3rd: Annette Hopkins – 7.09
• 🥈 2nd: Mehdi Hakimi – 7.86
• 🥇 1st: Peter Bastow – 9.00 - averages 3–0 wins each week with a 19-pt margin.

Club Championships – 2024

Presented by Ian McCann

• Division 6: 🥇 Gillian Kirby | 🥈 George Roux
• Division 5: 🥇 Ricardo Blasquez | 🥈 John Musumeci
• Division 4: 🥇 Bernard Worsley | 🥈 Mark Forland
• Division 3: 🥇 Yeu Pham (absent) | 🥈 Bernard Worsley
• Division 2: 🥇 Ryan Schatz (absent) | 🥈 Barry Davis (absent)
• Division 1: 🥇 Peter Bastow | 🥈 Tony Cardarello (absent)

🏆 Club Champion 2024: Peter Bastow

Club Person of the Year – 2024

Presented by Tracie Darke (daughter of Ken Darke)
🏆 Ken Darke Trophy – Winner: Phi Dao

This year marked the first time members voted for this prestigious award. Voting cards were issued at the End-of-Year Celebration on 28 November 2024, with results verified by Trevor Ryan.

Group Photos

📸 Photos were taken for:

• All trophy and award recipients
• All members and their guests
• 🖼️ View and download all the photos from the night here:
  🔗 WLSC 2025 Annual Presentation Photo Gallery

What’s Ahead in the 1st half of 2025?

• 🗓️ Social Night 2.0 – Wednesday April 23
• 🤝 Inter-Club Challenge (vs TLC) – Saturday May 17
• 📋 Annual General Meeting & Constitution Presentation – Monday June 2
• 🏆 Autumn Grand Final Night – Wednesday June 25

🔗 Visit the WLSC Events Calendar for all dates, updates, and registrations.

Legends of the Court: George Roux

🔗 Watch the George Roux Interview Highlights

I was honoured to finally catch up with club legend George Roux for a long-overdue interview. George shared insights from his youth in Ballina, early days playing hockey, and his transition to squash in 1966.

We discussed his well-known drawings, each of which hides his signature “GR”—a playful Easter egg. A collection of these works was “launched” on the night in a mock release titled “Just Squash It – A Collection of Drawings by George Roux”, available from April 1st (April Fool’s Day) for just $29.95.

We also revisited George’s thrilling comeback in the 2018 Spring Pennant Grand Final, where he rallied from 0–2 down to win and secure the team victory. We then showcased his final match as a 70-something, played just days before his 80th birthday.

💡 Fun fact: George’s superhero? The Phantom, who—like George—is still going strong after 400 years.

Rob Spooner’s 60th Anniversary Presentation

🔗 Watch Rob Spooner’s Presentation from the Sub Club Dinner

As part of the Wenty Leagues Sub Clubs Dinner held on Sunday, 1 December 2024, Life Member and Vice President Rob Spooner delivered a heartfelt and humorous presentation reflecting on our club’s 60-year history.

Lucky Door and Bonus Prize Draws

🎁 Hosted by Wendy Fox

• $20 Gift Cards: Tim Doyle, Charmaine Hepburn
• Spring Pennant 2024 Towels:
  • 🥈 Runners-Up Towels: Irene Gilbert, Sam Farrugia, Mark Deluca
  • 🥇 Winners: Selma Elazzi, Clive Aviet

Final Words & Acknowledgements

I closed the evening by thanking:

• The Committee: Rob Spooner, Bernie Worsley, Danny Hedges, Wendy Fox, and Chris Mitrovich
• Guest Presenters: Danny Hedges, Rob Cole & Trevor Ryan
• Special Guests: Marie Griffiths, Sharon Irwin, Tracie Darke & Ian McCann
• Official Photographer: Graeme Mitchell
• Event Coordinator: Wendy Fox and her support crew (Jimmy Jack!)
• Wenty Events Team: Louise Frendo, Kelly Bianchetto, Kristy Fagan & Team
• Wenty Leagues Club Board and Ian McCann: For their continued support

I was truly humbled to receive a thank-you gift from the committee. My message remains simple: “I do this for the friendships, not the accolades. Let’s continue to build a club we’re proud of.”

Let’s Stay Connected

📧 New club email: squash@wenthyleagues.com
🌐 Visit our website
📸 View full photo album 
🎥 Watch all video highlights 

Thank you for being part of Wenty Leagues Squash Club’s journey. Let’s keep the momentum going—for another 60 years and beyond!

🎾John Musumeci, WLSC President