(Please Note: This is pretty long)
Ok, as all of you know I bleed Maroon and White for the Manly club, just like you all do. I believe in the colours, the emblem and the Manly Sea Eagles. No player, coach, CEO or Board member is above the colours and, if they bring the colours and the team into disrepute then it doesn’t matter how good they are, they don’t deserve to be a part of the club I love and believe in.
As some of you may or may not know, I am a member of the Liberal Party as well so tonight for me to go to the Public Forum for the local candidates at the upcoming State Election was two-fold: First and foremost, to represent the colours and Manly in their cause to stay at Brookvale once and for all, and 2) support my party candidates. As I was going anyways I decided, as the other Manly fans there did, to wear my colours with pride.
When the event was handed to the floor for questions Des got up and asked about the funding for Brookvale Oval. Brad decided to answer the question because he will be the Planning Minister and he is also the Member for Wakehurst (which Brookvale Oval sits in). What we found out is that, since we received the $6 Million from the State Government (of which he helped negotiate with Morris Iemma for back in 2009) the club has not been in conversation with the State MP’s about the issue. THIS IS 2 YEARS!! Now, there are 2 reasons for this: The first is that Brad was lying. I didn’t see any reason why he would, and have Mike personally interject and back him up on this if he was. Also, Zorba didn't deny it, but we'll get to that shortly. The other reason is that the club, rightly so, decided to move onto the Federal Government (Tony Abbott and Co.) but, because the Liberal Party didn’t get Government, they were back to square one and basically didn’t want to go the hard yards and negotiate with Julia Gillard and Anthony Albanese. Now they were back asking for help, and fair enough.
Brad and Mike gave a fair answer. They told the club that the door is always open and that they are always and will always be welcome to come and have a chat. Unfortunately tonight they couldn’t do much as they hadn’t heard from them in 2 years so they didn’t have any plans. I’ll agree with them on this completely, as tonight we heard an idea to have a Trust control the ground instead of the Council (like the SCG Trust or the Parramatta Trust). I had never heard of this plan until tonight and the MP’s first heard about it a few days ago. I think this is a fantastic idea but it sounds like an idea that the Club thought up at the last minute and brought it out tonight. To Mike and Brad’s credit they too were very enthusiastic about the idea…
Now, we get to what this post is about: when Brad had completed the answer to Des’s question a couple of people from the back started heckling the MP’s. I didn’t turn around but we all knew they were Manly fans and were bringing the name of the club and, most importantly, the fans there in the maroon and white, down. We were being tarred with the same brush by the gutter-trash rudeness from the back.
Next, Zorba got up to refute what had been said. Not once did he mention that they had been in contact with them over the past 2 years. He started on a stats rave and then when Mike and Brad wouldn’t promise anything other than listening to their ideas and talking about the Trust (which I will mention again is a fantastic idea), the heckling started again. This time I looked back and it was none other than Zorba himself, Brendan Donohoe and Wendy Harmer.
The actions of these three were down right disgusting. It was brutish to the point where they took us all down with them and we were being tied to them and their behaviour at the back of the room. I have never been so embarrassed for the club in my entire life because of their utter disrespect. They showed us up in front of the people that we need to support us to be brutes, abusive and rude. Tonight, their actions have made the cause worse, not better. The hard work of so many people was ruined in one moment of stupidity from 3 idiots.
They bullied MP’s that deserve our respect. Even if they were Labor MP’s I WOULD STILL BE EMBARRASSED!! I would still show respect as well.
Tonight, I got home and I had to make a decision: Do I slide this under the carpet and forget about it, or do I stand by my morals and values to always respect your fellow man? I decided that I would never cower from my morals and values and I decided to make this post.
There is a better way to do it. I would have said the following: “Liberal MP’s, firstly I would like to thank the hard work you did 2 years ago to negotiate $6 Million for our Oval from a State Government that quite clearly doesn’t realize that this area exists. It has been extremely helpful and we are grateful. However, it isn’t enough to keep us at Brookvale. We need more and the Federal Government at this time won’t help. I would like to ask, what ideas do you have for Brookvale Oval, and can you help in any way to get us the $10 million we so rightly deserve?†Also, I would advise them of some ideas, like Des did tonight. I would take their answer, call them in the morning and work out a meeting with them and hopefully Barry with an opportunity to possibly have a package by March 26th. Now that is very unlikely due to their actions. Well Done!! *clap *clap *clap.
I was embarrassed to be there in the colours I so dearly love and it has made me think second about going to an event to represent the club in my colours, especially if those 3 are involved as I don’t want to be linked to them or anything they have their grubby mitts on. I think the sealer is this: 2 things happened: 1) Mike actually said that he wonders whether he can take his kids to see the footy anymore as he’ll just be hated out of the park; and 2) I convinced my mum to come to the event in Manly colours. This is the first Manly thing she has gone to. She was so disgusted that she will never do it again, and neither will I. It’s a sorry sight when the actions of few create so much damage. Well Done!!!
By the end of all of this the Manly Daily asked one more question about Brookvale Oval. This got boos from everyone else. These people we are supposed to get on our side and we made a joke of ourselves. It got so bad that Brad then said the following in a frustrated tone: “don’t forget that Tony lost the Election so it's Julia Gillard, a Labor leader that you should go to. Why don’t you, get Linda Beattie (Labor Candidate for Wakehurst) to get you your money, from Julia?†This got the biggest cheer of the night, including from myself. I was sick and tired of being represented by the jokes at the back.
You all know I love this club. You all know I bleed maroon and white. I have spent thousands of dollars on home and away trips, I have spent countless hours writing chants and promoting them at games, I even started the coaster trend and Sharks Leagues. I have never bad mouthed an official at the club. Until tonight I have been very loyal. I love this club and I am not leaving…so this is what’s going to happen:
1) The club representatives should contact the local members before the election, mend the wounds and get a meeting with the future Premier. Discuss the plans for this Trust and get things moving before the Councils get their Planning powers back.
2) Zorba, I have stood by you for years. Within 2 hours you lost my complete faith in you as PR manager. You stuffed up the Sponsorship launch, and then you were a part of that exhibition. You really are a piece of work and I don’t want you representing me or my club. Its time that you go, so I’ll be calling for the removal of Zorba as PR manager at the Manly Sea Eagles.
3) I am calling for Wendy Harmer to be removed from the Eagles Angels. Wendy has taken the hard work of those wonderful women to bring women to the Sea Eagles back to square one.
4) Finally, Vince De Luca and the other members of Warringah Council that oppose our cause, you are now on notice. Pick up your act and get behind the club or prepare to lose your seats in 2012.
As for Des, you are lucky I didn’t see you heckling and that you have a soft voice, as I would be calling for your head as well. As I said, it doesn’t matter how good you are, you ring disrespect to the colours you are not welcome.
Ladies and Gentlemen, I might have put my foot in it but I don’t care. I love my club, I love my Party and the members that represent it, I love the multitudes of people who I have made friends with through the Sea Eagles, some of whom were sitting beside me tonight displaying their colours as I was. On behalf of the maroon and white I apologise for the actions of few. We didn’t deserve that display tonight. Most of all, the players didn’t deserve that either.
Thank you for reading this and I look forward to the start of the season. GO YOU MIGHTY EAGLES!! Â
Ok, as all of you know I bleed Maroon and White for the Manly club, just like you all do. I believe in the colours, the emblem and the Manly Sea Eagles. No player, coach, CEO or Board member is above the colours and, if they bring the colours and the team into disrepute then it doesn’t matter how good they are, they don’t deserve to be a part of the club I love and believe in.
As some of you may or may not know, I am a member of the Liberal Party as well so tonight for me to go to the Public Forum for the local candidates at the upcoming State Election was two-fold: First and foremost, to represent the colours and Manly in their cause to stay at Brookvale once and for all, and 2) support my party candidates. As I was going anyways I decided, as the other Manly fans there did, to wear my colours with pride.
When the event was handed to the floor for questions Des got up and asked about the funding for Brookvale Oval. Brad decided to answer the question because he will be the Planning Minister and he is also the Member for Wakehurst (which Brookvale Oval sits in). What we found out is that, since we received the $6 Million from the State Government (of which he helped negotiate with Morris Iemma for back in 2009) the club has not been in conversation with the State MP’s about the issue. THIS IS 2 YEARS!! Now, there are 2 reasons for this: The first is that Brad was lying. I didn’t see any reason why he would, and have Mike personally interject and back him up on this if he was. Also, Zorba didn't deny it, but we'll get to that shortly. The other reason is that the club, rightly so, decided to move onto the Federal Government (Tony Abbott and Co.) but, because the Liberal Party didn’t get Government, they were back to square one and basically didn’t want to go the hard yards and negotiate with Julia Gillard and Anthony Albanese. Now they were back asking for help, and fair enough.
Brad and Mike gave a fair answer. They told the club that the door is always open and that they are always and will always be welcome to come and have a chat. Unfortunately tonight they couldn’t do much as they hadn’t heard from them in 2 years so they didn’t have any plans. I’ll agree with them on this completely, as tonight we heard an idea to have a Trust control the ground instead of the Council (like the SCG Trust or the Parramatta Trust). I had never heard of this plan until tonight and the MP’s first heard about it a few days ago. I think this is a fantastic idea but it sounds like an idea that the Club thought up at the last minute and brought it out tonight. To Mike and Brad’s credit they too were very enthusiastic about the idea…
Now, we get to what this post is about: when Brad had completed the answer to Des’s question a couple of people from the back started heckling the MP’s. I didn’t turn around but we all knew they were Manly fans and were bringing the name of the club and, most importantly, the fans there in the maroon and white, down. We were being tarred with the same brush by the gutter-trash rudeness from the back.
Next, Zorba got up to refute what had been said. Not once did he mention that they had been in contact with them over the past 2 years. He started on a stats rave and then when Mike and Brad wouldn’t promise anything other than listening to their ideas and talking about the Trust (which I will mention again is a fantastic idea), the heckling started again. This time I looked back and it was none other than Zorba himself, Brendan Donohoe and Wendy Harmer.
The actions of these three were down right disgusting. It was brutish to the point where they took us all down with them and we were being tied to them and their behaviour at the back of the room. I have never been so embarrassed for the club in my entire life because of their utter disrespect. They showed us up in front of the people that we need to support us to be brutes, abusive and rude. Tonight, their actions have made the cause worse, not better. The hard work of so many people was ruined in one moment of stupidity from 3 idiots.
They bullied MP’s that deserve our respect. Even if they were Labor MP’s I WOULD STILL BE EMBARRASSED!! I would still show respect as well.
Tonight, I got home and I had to make a decision: Do I slide this under the carpet and forget about it, or do I stand by my morals and values to always respect your fellow man? I decided that I would never cower from my morals and values and I decided to make this post.
There is a better way to do it. I would have said the following: “Liberal MP’s, firstly I would like to thank the hard work you did 2 years ago to negotiate $6 Million for our Oval from a State Government that quite clearly doesn’t realize that this area exists. It has been extremely helpful and we are grateful. However, it isn’t enough to keep us at Brookvale. We need more and the Federal Government at this time won’t help. I would like to ask, what ideas do you have for Brookvale Oval, and can you help in any way to get us the $10 million we so rightly deserve?†Also, I would advise them of some ideas, like Des did tonight. I would take their answer, call them in the morning and work out a meeting with them and hopefully Barry with an opportunity to possibly have a package by March 26th. Now that is very unlikely due to their actions. Well Done!! *clap *clap *clap.
I was embarrassed to be there in the colours I so dearly love and it has made me think second about going to an event to represent the club in my colours, especially if those 3 are involved as I don’t want to be linked to them or anything they have their grubby mitts on. I think the sealer is this: 2 things happened: 1) Mike actually said that he wonders whether he can take his kids to see the footy anymore as he’ll just be hated out of the park; and 2) I convinced my mum to come to the event in Manly colours. This is the first Manly thing she has gone to. She was so disgusted that she will never do it again, and neither will I. It’s a sorry sight when the actions of few create so much damage. Well Done!!!
By the end of all of this the Manly Daily asked one more question about Brookvale Oval. This got boos from everyone else. These people we are supposed to get on our side and we made a joke of ourselves. It got so bad that Brad then said the following in a frustrated tone: “don’t forget that Tony lost the Election so it's Julia Gillard, a Labor leader that you should go to. Why don’t you, get Linda Beattie (Labor Candidate for Wakehurst) to get you your money, from Julia?†This got the biggest cheer of the night, including from myself. I was sick and tired of being represented by the jokes at the back.
You all know I love this club. You all know I bleed maroon and white. I have spent thousands of dollars on home and away trips, I have spent countless hours writing chants and promoting them at games, I even started the coaster trend and Sharks Leagues. I have never bad mouthed an official at the club. Until tonight I have been very loyal. I love this club and I am not leaving…so this is what’s going to happen:
1) The club representatives should contact the local members before the election, mend the wounds and get a meeting with the future Premier. Discuss the plans for this Trust and get things moving before the Councils get their Planning powers back.
2) Zorba, I have stood by you for years. Within 2 hours you lost my complete faith in you as PR manager. You stuffed up the Sponsorship launch, and then you were a part of that exhibition. You really are a piece of work and I don’t want you representing me or my club. Its time that you go, so I’ll be calling for the removal of Zorba as PR manager at the Manly Sea Eagles.
3) I am calling for Wendy Harmer to be removed from the Eagles Angels. Wendy has taken the hard work of those wonderful women to bring women to the Sea Eagles back to square one.
4) Finally, Vince De Luca and the other members of Warringah Council that oppose our cause, you are now on notice. Pick up your act and get behind the club or prepare to lose your seats in 2012.
As for Des, you are lucky I didn’t see you heckling and that you have a soft voice, as I would be calling for your head as well. As I said, it doesn’t matter how good you are, you ring disrespect to the colours you are not welcome.
Ladies and Gentlemen, I might have put my foot in it but I don’t care. I love my club, I love my Party and the members that represent it, I love the multitudes of people who I have made friends with through the Sea Eagles, some of whom were sitting beside me tonight displaying their colours as I was. On behalf of the maroon and white I apologise for the actions of few. We didn’t deserve that display tonight. Most of all, the players didn’t deserve that either.
Thank you for reading this and I look forward to the start of the season. GO YOU MIGHTY EAGLES!! Â