St.Marys Band Club Look to Celebrate Half Century Milestone
The celebration will be free to all players and members as well as children under the age of three. Attendees aged between four and 12 will have to pay $15 while those aged 13 and over will enter for just $20 with access to all rides.
The day will see a number of rides available along with sausage sizzle, cakes, magic shows, local dance groups, a hot rod exhibition and an enormous fireworks finale. Further, an $8,000 raffle will see one lucky winner walk away with a home entertainment package including an enormous plasma TV.
A guestbook will allow all participants to sign and leave their comments while large 50th anniversary banners will be auctioned off at the end of the night. Those invited include past and present players, coaches, managers, life members, Nepean District Soccer Football Association and the Referees Association.
A number of bands will be playing including the Kazamm band, Urban Stone and the Erskine Park High School band. Combined with karate demonstrations and dance routines from Clairgate Primary School throughout the day, this is one celebration that cannot be missed?, according to the club?s organizers.
?We have people coming all the way from Queensland, Melbourne and Western Australia to join in on the celebrations,? said Chairman Garry Felsch.
?We?re hoping to get around 4,000 people on Saturday since we already have about 2,500 confirmed.
?It will be great to get those people who are or have been involved with St. Mary?s Band Club since it began in 1960,? he added.
The club will be celebrating its half century milestone by introducing players with a brand new kit featuring both the 1960 logo and the club?s current logo. In addition, the club will also roll out a much anticipated supporters jersey which will feature 50 club sponsors wishing to commemorate with the west Sydney club.
Having begun with just two teams in the 1960s, St. Mary?s Band Club has grown to nurture and produce hundreds of players across its 55 teams of both boys and girls. The club is renowned for its zero tolerance of abuse and harassment towards officials, coaches, referees and anyone on their fields.
With such a welcoming atmosphere, it?s easy to see why coaches such as Mark Bulis, 25, stay loyal to their club. Volunteering his time twice a week to coach the U/16 girls, Bulis is just one of many dedicated members within the club?s arsenal.
?I have been with St. Marys Band Club for 21 years now and it?s easy to stay loyal to this club,? said Bulis.
? It?s a wonderful club and for me it?s like a family so it will be nice to celebrate all the years I have had in soccer with others who have been involved [with St Mary?s Band Club]? he added.
As Saturday draws closer, the club encourages all those wishing to take part in the 50th anniversary to contact Garry Felsch on 0420 268 458 or simply turn up to Kevin Dwyer fields, located on Roper Road, Colyton between 12pm ? 8:30pm.
-By Caetano Lima
