OIGFC Newsletter

March 17, 2024

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** OIGFC Newsletter #3
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** Pre-Season Progress at Chelsworth: A Promising Outlook
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**
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As pre-season training at Chelsworth continues to unfold, there’s an undeniable air of excitement and determination among players and staff alike. Jeff Gieschen, with his seasoned perspective, has expressed genuine satisfaction with the standards and qualities being driven by our senior players. Their leadership sets a high bar for the entire squad.
Adding to the optimism is the enthusiastic response from younger players, who have eagerly embraced the challenge laid out by their more experienced counterparts. Lawrence ‘Tarz’ Tutton, a longtime observer of OIGFC, has gone as far as declaring this season’s playing list as the best he’s seen in the Brown and White.
However, with this excitement comes the practical challenge of managing the use of our training facility. Currently, the seniors and reserves occupy the main oval, while the U/19 squad diligently hone their skills on the north-east oval. Despite the logistical juggling, the club has managed to maintain a strong attendance, with more than 60 players on the track on occasion.
A particularly noteworthy aspect of this year’s training cohort is the presence of a solid core of current schoolboys. This is a direct result of a deliberate recruitment strategy aimed at capturing talent as young as Year 11. By integrating these young prospects into the OIGFC culture early on, the club aims to foster a deep-rooted sense of belonging well before they transition from junior football at the community level.
As we march steadily towards the commencement of the season, the signs are undoubtedly encouraging. The blend of experience and youth, coupled with the commitment to nurturing talent from within, paints a promising picture for Old Ivanhoe in the year ahead.

Practice Match Schedule Unveiled

As the anticipation for the upcoming season mounts, Old Ivanhoe Grammarians Football Club is pleased to announce its practice match schedule, offering fans a glimpse into the team’s preparations and providing an opportunity for players to fine-tune their skills ahead of the season kick-off.

March 23rd: Showdown with AJAX

Old Ivanhoe Football Club will face off against AJAX at the iconic Chelsworth Park in a series of matches sure to test the team’s mettle. The action-packed day kicks off with the reserves taking on their AJAX counterparts on the main oval at 12 pm, while the U/19 squad battles it out on the north-east oval. The excitement continues at 2 pm with the main event, as Old Ivanhoe’s senior team takes to the field to showcase their skills and strategy against AJAX.

April 4th: Clash with Fitzroy

As the season draws nearer, Old Ivanhoe Grammarians FC will square off against Fitzroy at the historic Brunswick St. Oval. The reserves will set the stage with a match starting at 5:30 pm, followed by the eagerly anticipated senior showdown at 7:30 pm. Expect nothing short of thrilling football action as the teams vie for supremacy on the field.
Don’t miss your chance to witness the excitement and intensity of these practice matches as Old Ivanhoe Grammarians Football Club gears up for what promises to be an unforgettable season. Stay tuned for updates and be sure to show your support for the Brown and White!

Round 1 Celebration: 60th Birthday Bash

Save the date, mark your calendars, and get ready to join in the festivities as Old Ivanhoe Grammarians Football Club kicks off its 60th birthday celebrations in style! Round 1 on April 13th is not just any ordinary match—it’s a momentous occasion that calls for a grand celebration, and we want YOU to be a part of it.
Join us as we commemorate this special milestone with a day filled with football, fun, and fond memories. As we face off against our vanquished Grand Final opponent, Old Camberwell.

Event Highlights:

Chelsworth Club Lunch:

Start the celebrations off right by joining us for a carvery lunch provided by Spitting Image Catering. $40 will get you a seat at the Chelsworth Club and a meal that never disappoints! Enjoy good food, great company, and soak in the pre-match excitement as we gear up for an epic showdown on the field.

Premiership Flag Raising:

Witness history in the making as we proudly raise our premiership flags high. Join Kevin McLean, Bob Stevens, Andy Harris, Godfrey Stevens, John McKenzie, and other club legends as they hoist the senior and reserves flags, commemorating our past triumphs and setting the stage for another unforgettable season.

Football Action:

Of course, no birthday celebration would be complete without some thrilling football action! Cheer on the young men of our community as they take to the field, fuelled by the support of our loyal fans and driven by the desire to ensure we make a positive beginning to our time in Premier B.

60th Anniversary Gala Dinner

Get ready for a night of glitz, glamour, and generosity as OIGFC invites you to our annual Gala Auction Night on April 20th! Set against the stunning backdrop of the State Library, this event promises to be an unforgettable evening filled with excitement and celebration.

Event Highlights:

Honoring Our Champions:

Join us as we pay tribute to two of our most illustrious teams—the 1994 D Section Premiers and the 2014 U/19 Premiership Team. Let’s applaud their achievements, relive the glory days, and celebrate the indelible mark they’ve left on our club’s history.

Live and Silent Auctions:

Get ready to bid on an array of exclusive items and experiences in our live and silent auctions. From sports memorabilia to luxury getaways, there’s something for everyone. And remember, every winning bid goes towards supporting our Football Club and its ongoing success.

Purchase Tickets:

Secure your spot at the event by visiting the OIGFC website and purchasing your tickets.

TCIKETS ONSALE THIS WEEK!

Don’t miss out on the chance to mingle with fellow supporters, meet club legends, and contribute to a worthy cause.

Donation Opportunities:

If you’re in a position to donate items for our auctions, we’d love to hear from you! Contact Vice-President Sienna Whiteman at siennawhiteman@y7mail.com to discuss how you can contribute to the success of our Gala Auction Night.

Save the Date:

– Date: April 20th
– Location: State Library
– Time: 7:00pm

Don’t miss your chance to be a part of this extraordinary evening as we come together to celebrate our club’s rich history, honor our champions, and pave the way for a bright future. See you at the Gala Auction Night!
Let’s make this a birthday celebration to remember! Bring your family, friends, and fellow supporters!

Your support can make this celebration unforgettable, whether it’s by donating an auction item or joining the dynamic team behind the scenes. Your contribution, big or small, will add that extra sparkle to our gala.
Contact Sienna Whiteman at 0437 444 340 or drop her an email at siennawhiteman@y7mail.com (mailto:siennawhiteman@y7mail.com) to unleash the party-planning magic! Don’t miss out on the chance to be part of something truly extraordinary!
We encourage all members, past and present players, supporters, and their families to join us for this momentous occasion. Let’s come together to reminisce about the past, revel in the present, and toast to the exciting chapters yet to unfold.
Stay tuned for more details as we embark on this celebratory journey together!
Become a Member Today!

Calling all passionate supporters and die-hard fans! Here’s your chance to show your true colours and become an official member of Old Ivanhoe Grammarians Football Club. Whether you bleed Brown and White or simply love the community and a great meal, there’s a membership option for everyone, each offering fantastic value for money.

Why Join?

– Great Value for Money: With a variety of membership levels to choose from, there’s an option to suit every budget.

– Financial Support: By becoming a member, you’re not just showing your support on match days—you’re also providing crucial financial assistance that helps the club thrive both on and off the field.

How to Join:

Ready to pledge your allegiance to OIGFC? Visit www.oigfc.com.au or speak to a committee member to sign up today. Your support makes all the difference, and we can’t wait to welcome you into the fold!

Chelsworth Club Lunch Dates: Reserves (11:40am) and Seniors (2:00pm) Home Matches
13 April Old Camberwell
27 April St. Bede’s Mentone Tigers
18 May De La Salle
1 June Old Haileybury
29 June Old Geelong
20 July Old Trinity
3 August Beaumaris
17 August Williamstown CYMS
24 August Caulfield Grammarians

** Calling All Players!
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Old Ivanhoe Grammarians Football Club is on the lookout for even more talented and dedicated players to join our ranks for the upcoming season. Whether you’re a seasoned veteran or a rising star, there’s a place for you everyone at our club! Given the great numbers we are in the position to potentially field a third senior men’s side. In 2024 we won’t be fielding a women’s team but if you are keen to be part of a 2025 side please confirm your interest to our vice-president, Sienna Whiteman siennawhiteman@y7mail.com (mailto:siennawhiteman@y7mail.com) .

** Chelsworth Park New Pavilions – WE NEED YOUR HELP!
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We hope this message finds you well, and that you are all very excited for the start of the 2024 season.

As many of you are aware, Ivanhoe Grammar School and Banyule City Council have proposed a Redevelopment and Lease Amendment for Chelsworth Park, which includes the construction of two new pavilions along with a new lease agreement. This development is crucial for our club’s future, providing much-needed amenities and facilities to elevate our operations to a new level of excellence.

The proposed architecturally designed two-storey pavilion, features modern facilities including 4x changerooms, a kiosk and a gym on the ground floor, and on the upper level a large social room and deck overlooking the ground. Rest assured, access to the upper level is provided by both internal and external stairs along with a lift. The proposed design will not only enhance our club’s capabilities but also promote inclusivity and accessibility for all members of our community. Importantly, this development will provide safe changing facilities for women, addressing a long-standing need.

Please visit the council website https://shaping.banyule.vic.gov.au/ChelsworthPark (https://url.au.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/dLJRCRONrWhr65l8H94bK1?domain=shaping.banyule.vic.gov.au) to access further information about the project
To ensure that this project moves forward successfully, we need your support. Your voices matter in advocating for the approval of this development plan. We urge each of you to write to the council expressing your support for the project. Your letters will play a crucial role in demonstrating the strong community backing for this initiative.

Letters must be submitted by 11.59pm on Wednesday 27^th March 2024.

There are two ways you can make a submission:
1. Via the online form found here: https://shaping.banyule.vic.gov.au/ChelsworthPark (https://url.au.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/dLJRCRONrWhr65l8H94bK1?domain=shaping.banyule.vic.gov.au) or;
2. In writing to Council.
Quote Ref: F2013/1243, address your submission to the Chief Executive Officer, Banyule City Council and deliver to one of the following locations:
+ Banyule City Council Offices, Level 3, 1 Flintoff Street, Greensborough, 3088
+ Ivanhoe Library & Cultural Hub, Ground Floor, 275 Upper Heidelberg Road, Ivanhoe, 3079
+ PO Box 94, Greensborough, 3088.

We have prepared a draft letter which you can personalize to reflect your own thoughts and experiences;

Ref: F2013/1243
RE: Chelsworth Pavilion Redevelopment and Lease Amendment

Dear Cr McKern,

I am writing to you as a resident of [Ivanhoe/East Ivanhoe/Eaglemont/Banyule] and a passionate advocate for the enhancement of Chelsworth Park. As an active user of Chelsworth Park, I fully endorse the Chelsworth Pavilion Redevelopment and Lease Amendment Proposal.

The current facilities at Chelsworth Park are antiquated and ill-suited to meet the needs of our community. In particular, they fail to provide safe and inclusive facilities for women’s sports, hindering the participation and enjoyment of female athletes.
The proposed redevelopment offers an opportunity to address these shortcomings and create a modern, accessible space that fosters community engagement. I commend the significant financial commitment proposed by Ivanhoe Grammar School to fund this project and believe that the proposed lease, as presented, is fair and reasonable. The proposed plans meet the needs of our growing community, achieve design excellence, and enhance Chelsworth Park without causing adverse effects to the local environment.

Through this strategic investment in upgraded facilities, council has the ability to create an environment that embraces inclusivity, encourages community involvement, and caters to the varied recreational interests of residents. It is important for the whole of the Banyule community that this showpiece Open Space area has facilities that cater for girls, women, and people with disabilities. At the moment, it does not, and this opportunity should not be missed.

The location and size of the proposed clubrooms strike a perfect balance to provide the community with the facilities required, without impacting the amenity of Chelsworth Park. In fact, the proposed designs, with natural timber look finishes, ensure that the buildings blend into the environment far better than the existing pavilions. The proposed pavilions are a substantial distance from the nearest residents and cannot, by any measure, have any significant amenity impacts on the nearby residents. Any amenity impacts are far outweighed by the vast community benefits this proposal delivers.

As a user of Chelsworth Park, I greatly appreciate the fact that Ivanhoe Grammar keeps the grounds in immaculate condition, and all nearby residents benefit from this upkeep, as the school and local sports clubs only use the grounds for a fraction of the available daytime hours. I am grateful that this proposal will allow the council’s partnership with the school to continue into the future.

Please relay my strong endorsement of this proposal to the appropriate council officers. I am grateful for your attention to this matter and for your commitment to improving our local facilities.
Yours sincerely,
[Your Name]

If you would like to further support this initiative, we would love for you to come along to a community workshop to voice your support.
Please see times and locations below along with the link to make a booking:

Sunday 17 March, 9.30am-11.30am, Chelsworth Park Timber Pavilion – BOOKINGS (https://url.au.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/sCdaCVARy1ilJgK1Czi1Q2?domain=trybooking.com)

Thursday 21 March, 7-8.30pm, Online – BOOKINGS (https://url.au.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/sCdaCVARy1ilJgK1Czi1Q2?domain=trybooking.com)

Saturday 23 March, 9.30-11.30am, Chelsworth Park Timber Pavilion – BOOKINGS (https://url.au.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/6u1wCWLVz2ijEDYviKX6MN?domain=trybooking.com)

Let’s come together as a community to ensure that the Chelsworth Park redevelopment becomes a reality. Your participation is invaluable in shaping the future of our club and enhancing the facilities available to all members.

** Introducing OIGFC’s New Playing Jumpers for 2024
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After the success of last year we allowed our premiership winners the honour of retaining their playing jumpers. It’s a small token of appreciation for their hard work and dedication in bringing home the ultimate prize.

Exciting news for Old Ivanhoe Grammarians Football Club as we unveil our brand-new playing jumpers for the 2024 season! Crafted with precision and care by Star Sub Australia, these jumpers represent the next chapter in our club’s storied history.
But that’s not all – thanks to a fitting session hosted by Star Sub Australia, our senior and reserves players now have tailored jumpers that are perfectly suited for the challenges that lie ahead in the 2024 season. With varied adjustments, we’re confident that these jumpers will help our players perform at their best on the field.

In addition to our standard playing jumpers, we’re thrilled to introduce a special First Nations design for our clash strip. Designed by Andrew Taylor, a Noonga man and proud member of the OIGFC community, this design pays tribute to the rich history of First Nations people and their connection to the game of Marngrook, as well as our club’s commitment to Reconciliation.

The key icons to recognise on the jumper are:

The footprints represent the journey each member has made to be part of the club.

The fingerprint represents the unique way that every member plays the game.

The blue represents the waterways which pass close to Chelsworth Park.

The Red, Yellow and Black represents the club’s commitment to reconciliation.

The boomerangs, in the place of the traditional V, have been used in battle by First Nations people for thousands of year, so it is only fitting that our players wear the boomerang on their chests as they go into battle every Saturday afternoon.

As Andrew’s message read when he provided this design – “Our inaugural Indigenous guernsey embeds a unique mark on Old Ivanhoe FC’s history and the relationship we continue to create with the First Nations people of Australia”. “When we cross the line to compete in the game we love so much, game on”. “Symbolic of the traditional First Nations boomerang across the chest”.

“May the best, and fairest team win”.

** Sponsors
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Like it was in 2023 we are fortunate to have the support of Floridia Cheese and the Terminus Hotel, North Fitzroy as jumper sponsors in 2024. In 2024 we welcome Greg Sewell Forging as a jumper sponsor. It is by the generous support of Greg Sewell Forging that we have been able to acquire our reversible jumpers, First Nations design and bespoke fit for each of our senior players. A truly remarkable contribution by the Steven’s family, who have already given so much across the 60 years of the football club. It will be tremendous to see how their generosity promotes reconciliation, social justice and the continued development of the young men who call our club home.

If you would like to become a sponsor, we can tailor a sponsorship to meet your needs and the level of contribution you are comfortable with. Contact our President chris.branigan@ivanhoe.com.au (mailto:chris.branigan@ivanhoe.com.au) to begin the conversation.

OIGFC is proud to shine the spotlight on one of our esteemed sponsors: Floridia Cheese. As a club deeply rooted in our community, we value the support of local businesses like Floridia Cheese, whose commitment to excellence mirrors our own dedication to success on and off the field.

Floridia Cheese is a renowned name in the world of dairy products, known for producing some of the finest cheeses that grace tables across the nation. With a legacy spanning generations, Floridia Cheese has built a reputation for quality, craftsmanship, and innovation.

As a sponsor of OIGFC, Floridia Cheese exemplifies the spirit of community partnership. Their generous support enables us to continue striving for excellence in all aspects of our club, from player development to community engagement initiatives.
Beyond their financial contribution their dedication to producing high-quality products reflects our own pursuit of excellence on the field, making them the perfect partner for Old Ivanhoe Grammarians Football Club.

We invite all members of the Chelsworth community to join us in celebrating Floridia Cheese and showing our appreciation for their ongoing support. Whether it’s enjoying their delicious cheeses at our club events or spreading the word about their exceptional products, let’s recognise and thank Floridia Cheese for their invaluable partnership.

To learn more about Floridia Cheese and explore their range of products, visit their website at floridiacheese.com.au. Thank you, Floridia Cheese, for being an integral part of our journey to success both on and off the field. We look forward to many more years of partnership and shared achievements.

Thank you to all readers for your contribution to the Old Ivanhoe Grammarians Football and see you at the football.

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