December 2017
THE NEWSLETTER FOR MEMBERS OF THE SWAN YACHT CLUB
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Commodore's Report
Dear Members,

Building Report
The frontof the building signage is now complete with the newly installed Swan Yacht Club sign on the main entry and on the right hand side of the building is the new emblem which is also lit up at night and now compliments the main facade. The new honour board has now been installed in the main foyer. The ring beam for the fire tanks had the concrete poured last week ready to progress to the tank base; hopefully some of the fencing can be removed by the end of the month for more parking.

Social
Melbourne Cup at the club was a huge success with over 500 plus punters. Open Day was another huge day to show case our club to visiting dignitaries, members and guests with up to 40 boats attending the sail past with Greg Roach and crew winning the Mike and Ann Williams Perpetual Trophy.

Santa will be at the club every Friday at 5pm in December and Sunday 10th for the Kids Christmas Party.

New Years Eve at the club this year will be upstairs with HI NRG giving another great performance to bring in the New Year. The major raffle with excellent prizes from our generous sponsors will be drawn that night, so make sure you return your raffle book before the draw.

As the lead up to the silly season please be courteous to other patrons at the club so everyone can enjoy their festive celebrations.

I wish you and your families a safe and a Happy Christmas and New Year!

Regards,
Kevin Bielby
Commodore
General Manager Report
Dear Members,

Its exciting times at the Swan with so much activity, community engagement and fun to be had over the busy festive December weekends and to cap it all off the club will soon embark on the exciting development of the next 5 Year Plan, a plan that will outline the strategic direction of the club for the next 5 seasons.

With member engagement at an all-time high and the club being recognised as Club of the Year by our states governing body, Clubs WA, the Management Committee are committed to ensuring the continuation of the positive trends and as part of this process the club will engage members for feedback on the strategic direction into the near future.

Around The Club
Functions & Events:
With Christmas Day lunch sold out why not make an
effort to get down on Christmas Eve and enjoy in the festive spirit!

New Year Eve with Hi NRG is filling fast. Don’t forget to get on board for this event.

Importantly, members are encouraged to continue contacting the club and booking in advance of attendance to avoid any disappointment.

Santa will be in attendance each and every Friday night so if you know of someone who has been nice I encourage you to bring them along with a Christmas wish list.

Thank you to the Ladies Committee for their great work in coordinating the recent ladies lunch. Great to see so many smiling faces on what was a wonderful day. Well done to everyone involved in this successful event.

Late last month the club held the Members Sundowner. It offered an opportunity for members to try some new beverage options, fresh oysters and BBQ on what has to be one of the most picturesque locations on the river.

The major raffle tickets are out and there are so many great prizes to win. If you are not interested in winning please return the tickets to reception when convenient prior to the 31st December.

Housekeeping:
Marketing of the club continues at a hectic pace. Keep an eye out for the Christmas well wishes videos and check out the club website for the latest club promotional activities.

Quarter 1 HSS is due to expire on the 31st December so get down before to the Swan before time runs out.

Get on-board converting your guests into members of the Swan. Clubs are relying on a vibrant and sustainable membership to ensure a bright future. Becoming a member of the club that is Bringing life to the river is not a bad way to start off the New Year.

Thank you to those members who have taken time out to offer suggestions through the member’s feedback email [email protected] to improve their club experience. In essence, the feedback and suggestions we receive creates a strategy to understand and cope with our competition.

On Water Activities:
Our Rear Commodore Ian Harwood reports the change
in policy regarding the Points system for full members. Please take the time to familiarise yourself the policy which is locate on the club website.

All the best to the Anglers who will be heading out over the weekend and we all look forward to the story of the ‘one that got away’. Don’t forget to support the section raffle that the boys are supplying when they are out and about Friday nights.

Building Update:
We patiently await the completion of the carparks, signage and the final environmental improvements along the overflow car park side of the club and once complete we can all take stock of the vast improvements and manage the final fitout of pre-existing furnishings.

Major works are now taking shape in the car park area and the club are managing the ongoing works to the best of our ability conscious of the fact that the works have restricted parking. We are working to complete all works as soon as possible.

In closing, December is packed full of members activities, get down and enjoy the community vibe that we should all be very proud of and take the time out to think about some physical activity in the new year, our affiliates offer plenty of options to rid that spare tyre that will take hold over the next few weeks.

See you at the club!

Regards,
Damien Gaspar
General Manager
Vice Commodore Report
Dear Members,

Well what a month that was.

Opening day was a huge success as predicted with over 40 boats taking part in the sail past and many more hundreds of members and guests joining in the fun festivities at the clubhouse well into the evening.

Melbourne Cup day never disappoints and this year was no exception. Around 500 revellers attended this year which makes it the biggest yet.

The inaugural members sundowner was well attended with fresh oysters and wine tasting available helped make it a big hit with the attendees. Closely following after the sundowner the same evening was our November open mic night. Another great evening of entertainment from your very own Crooners plus many talented members who amazed us with their vocal skills. Such talent in our midst.

All in all another hugely successful month for the Swan.

Lastly it is with a heavy heart and great sadness that I must advise you all of the tragic passing of baby Summer. Great granddaughter of our member for life Ross Brennan and his lovely wife Beverly. Sadly Summer was diagnosed with Neuro Blastoma at 11 months old and after a valiant and brave struggle she passed away last week at a mere two and a half years of age. I'm sure you all join me in sending our love and condolences to the entire family.

Thank you everyone.

Until next month.

Fair winds and smooth seas.

Warm Regards,
Paul Nicholls
Vice Commodore
Rear Commodore Report
Dear Members,

Following a very busy busy-bee a few weeks ago now, I just wanted to say a special thankyou to all the people who joined in and assisted. Especially Kim Sorrell who was still working well after the beer and hot dogs came out.

You will have noticed that we covered a lot of ground in the works. The Bosuns shed has been tidied up and re-painted (and it looks great in my opinion). The slipway received a clean and re-organisation, we relocated the building materials to the rear of the property near the sea container. The dinghys on the foreshore have all been removed and the beach tidied up.

Regarding dinghys, members may be interested to note that removal of the dinghys from the foreshore is one of the conditions imposed on the club as part of approvals for the building works that had been carried out recently. We ask members NOT to leave dinghys on the beach for extended periods. Any dinghy left there will be removed and disposed of. This is no longer the storage location for these. We have had to relocate the dinghys into the slip area temporarily, which required us cutting a number of the chains. The chains and padlocks etc have all been left with the dinghys in the slipway area. We ask members to take their dinghys home for the moment. Ultimately, we are constructing a vertical rack and a dolly which will be located near the sea container and bin store. Once this is completed, the members who already have dinghy privilege will be invited to return their dinghys to the new rack. Any spare rack positions will then be offered to the remainder of the membership. I thank you for your cooperation with this. I am sure you will agree it has tidied the club up as a result and the area now looks great.

Points, there have been a number of changes to the points policy for the club members. Please fee free to download a copy of the updated policy from the web site. It has been significantly overhauled. However, in summary;

1) The new policy formalises some of the ad-hoc opportunities that are available to earn points.
2) Provides opportunities for members to earn points in advance (by arrangement with the GM)
3) Makes an allowance for points to be awarded for a certain level of expenditure at the bar on your membership card.
4) Outlines the responsibilities for trailer boat owners
5) Provides an exemption for members who have been a full member for over 15 years or are over 65 years of age.
6) Details the penalties for those who have failed to meet their club obligation.

Thanks and Kind Regards,
Ian Harwood
Rear Commodore
Rear Commodore Power & Angling Report
Welcome anglers summer is here, the slips are near empty and I hope we all have plans for extensive use of our boats over the holiday period.

As you are all probably aware, we are finalising works on the fire fighting tanks and pump system in the Southern area of carpark, which has impacted on parking for our trailer boat members. We ask all members to respect the dedicated trailer boat parking areas when parking their vehicles and encourage all members to carpool with non-member guests when heading out on their boats because we are in for another busy festive season.

We must remember that parking is for members only. I also ask the trailer boat members to display a little more patience and to be aware that the Club is undertaking all reasonable measures to reduce the trailer boat car parking restrictions during this period.

We had a very successful November competition, enjoying outstanding weather, with excellent numbers of competitors weighing in a good range of fish species, considering the impact of the demersal fishing ban that is current until 15th December (See below for Ian’s report).

We are fishing two weeks in a row during December to catch up on the August comp which was lost to bad weather.

And now angling details
from our angling editor Ian Hall;

Regards,
Steve Browne
Rear Commodore
Power and Angling
Ph. 0409 330 412

Angling Report
Our next 'Field Day' is on Sunday 10th December followed immediately by our second December field day on 17th December, with the Demersal Ban being lifted on Friday 15th December, so it's on for young and old The November comp saw two new Season Records - Travis Sims with a Herring @ 0.222KG and Gil Sander with a Tarwine @ 0.491KG.
Our Vice Captain Travis Sims was the 'Top Gun' for the Month and the Season with Team Africa's, Gil and Owen hot on his heels. Well Done Guys!

The Angling Section's BBQ held at the Naval Cadets Venue next door was a great success, and all our Anglers and their families had a good time.
Thank you to Brad and the Naval Cadets for extending their hospitality by allowing us to use their premises and facilities.

A Big Thank You to all our sponsors - Anglers Fishing World, Riverton-Rossmoyne Veterinary Hospital, Compleat Angler, MM Electrical, Travis Sims Tackle and Phil Scott Sinkers All support the Angling Section with 'Gift Vouchers' and 'Prizes' for our Monthly Field Days.

A Big Thank You to all the SYC Members and visitors who support our weekly Raffles at the Club on Friday Nights, your support helps keep the Angling Section interesting and also supports other needy activities within the Club, so dig deep as we need your support, help us help others.

All SYC Angling Members - The Club Boats the 'Dave Birchenough' and the 'School Boat' are used on all for our 'Angling Field Days', so if you are a Angling Section Member without a boat looking for a spot on a boat please contact Travis SIMS by email - [email protected]. If all the spots on the two 'Club Boats' are taken, we will try and find you a spot on another boat. The normal contribution towards Fuel & Bait is ~$50 for a day out on one of the Club Boats....but bear in mind you could quite easily win your contribution back in prizes....so come along and have some fun, and as a SYC member you are entitled to join the Angling Section 'free of charge' as part of your SYC Club membership. You and your family are most welcome to come along and try your skills at fishing.

Angling Shirts & Caps & Boat Flags - We are planning another order of Angling Shirts so please text or email me with your order, size & quantity. Also, if you want an Angling Section Flag for your boat, please contact Owen Blackbeard - 0418 945 794

You can also view the Angling Section on our face book page - http://m.facebook.com/swan-yacht-club-angling-148241968869527

Till Next Month,
Safe Boating & Happy Fishing,
Ian Hill
Editor
[email protected] / 0412 949 323

Ladies Auxiliary Report
Hi Everyone,

Well here it is the last report for the year and once the “Silly” season is over we will hopefully have time to settle into the boating and relaxing season.

In the past month there has been so much going on around the club and one outstanding night for me was the “Members” evening on the deck. It was wonderful to see so many boating members enjoying the balmy night and each others company, along with the oyster shucking, wine tasting and other tasty morsels supplied by the club. This was followed by a night with the “Crooners” for anyone who wanted to kick on. The Ladies Christmas Lunch was also a hit. With 160 ladies in attendance, ranging from my beautiful Mother and her group,
the lovely ladies from the Dalmatinac Bowling Club, our own dragon boaters, the ladies from the Leeuwin Barracks, visitors from other clubs, June Williams tennis crowd, my own circle of friends even from primary school (long time ago) along with our wonderful members. It was a “Merry” day with delicious Christmas lunch prepared by Noe and staff, and served by Emma, Maddy and the crew who looked after everyone beautifully. The resort style fashions from “Jewels By the Sea” as usual were stunning and our lovely models, ranging in ages and sizes strutted their stuff like professionals. Thanks girls for stepping out of your comfort zone, and sharing some personal bios. We had pop up stalls with hand made candles, shoes, hats, bags and tiaras (lots of princesses and queens that day!) Arbonne makeup and skin care, 11th Hour Hair Styling and Kokadama Plants (Japanese Moss Plants) from the “little seed House” and of course the clothing being modelled was for sale. So all in all a fun filled amazing day for the ladies.

Keep your eye on the E-News for up and coming events and book early for NYE. Don’t forget this is a club and if you are a member and invite guests its your duty to inform them of rules and dress codes. This also means don’t treat toilets etc like a rubbish dump as they have appeared in recent times. Its just as easy to put papers in the bin as on the floor. We have a beautiful venue and its ours to look after.

As summer comes don’t forget to slip slop slap, the statistics on skin cancer are increasing dramatically as we enjoy our beautiful summer lifestyle. My husband Don’s skin cancer story has appeared in the Nov Cancer Council Newsletter, if you want to read it Google Cancer Council WA - Munster Couple.

We both wish you all a safe and happy Christmas whatever you are doing, and all the best for the New Year.

Until Next Year,
Marian Byfield
Ladies Committee
Upcoming Events

Calender
December
January
Specials
Corporate Challenge

Swan Yacht Club
Riverside Road
East Fremantle WA 6158
Ph: (08) 9339 3520
Fax: (08) 9339 5995