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Ryde Hunters Hill District Hockey Club
Sydney, Australia

 

2009 Forum






 		  

RHHHC Forum 26 September 2009
Future of the Keith Thompson Hockey Cetnre

Attendees

Alex Braude, Michael Braude , Michael Brown, Peter Buckhan, Charles Calleja, Ken Campbell, Ken Cooper, Glen Castensen, Sharon Coutts, Terry Cox, Alan Cullen, Raymond Daly, Gregg Dwyer, Stephanie Dwyer, Maurie Dawson, Bill Edwards, Steve English, Michelle Giaquinto, Warren Green, , Chris Jenkins, Jeff McEwen, Steve Merchant, Tony Pecar, Andrew Ramsey, Phil Retford, James Selkirk, Meg Smith

Apologies

Ron Lavery, Brendan Nelson, Katherine Woodthorpe-Anderson

The forum consisted of the following:

  • A presentation focused on the ‘State of Play’ and identification of available strategies

  • Small group discussion of strategies and report back

  • Identifying a way forward.

Summary of Presentation

  • The current lease was negotiated in 1994 and provides a ten year tenure with an option for a further ten years. The lease expires in mid 2014.

  • If offered for sale the lease gives the RHHHC the first right of purchase of the site.

  • In 20072008 RHHHC was advised that the Department of Education and Training would recommend against renewing the lease in 2014.

  • The focus of negotiations with the Department turned to an alternative site for the club. There were preliminary discussions concerning relocation funding.

  • To date no formal funded proposal has been put to the club from the state government concerning a viable alternative site.

  • Ryde Council has advised that they are unable to advice of a suitable site in the Ryde LGA.

  • Removal of the site would impact RHHHC members significantly, as too hockey more generally given the use to which it is put. Uncertainty about the site’s future has informed a reluctance by the Club to invest in the site including the expenditure of grant monies. The club has encountered delays in its attempts to obtain loan guarantees to finance the returfing of the field.

  • Potential strategies for RHHC include: a strategy cohered around staying at Keith Thompson beyond 2014 through an extension of the lease; buying the site, and; a funded relocation proposal with adequate controls over the club’s autonomy, assets and capacity to raise revenue.

Small Group Discussions

Small groups focused on the identified strategies. A fourth strategy was added which was for the club to operate as a ‘virtual club’ with no home ground. Each group reported back to the Forum and from the resultant discussion a work plan was identified.

Work Plan

1. RHHHC to seek well-placed advice on its access to the state government (Bill Edwards).

2. RHHHC to develop financial analysis and modelling that would inform any consideration if its ability to partner with organisations to purchase the site (Michael Braude, Glen Castensen, Steve English, Andrew Ramsey).

3. Shaped by the advice received at point 1 that would potentially inform an approach to government that would be solution-focused.

4. The future use of the site, and community attitudes to the site will be improved if adjoining organisations could make use of the site during the 11.00pm – 3.00pm time period. The site should be thought of as a green recreational space for the corporate community particularly its workforce. A plan to be developed as to how this proposal might be pitched and what it would comprise (Sharon Coutts).

5. At present RHHHC’s primary tangible asset is a three year lease on the Keith Thompson site. A greater effort needs to be directed to ensuring that the quality of the site is maintained. While a clear focus point is the turf (see below), of considerable importance is the state of the club house facilities, and surrounding landscape. What is required is a proposal that identifies the expenditures that are required to improve the quality of the site (Michael Brown, Warren Green). To assist the work that is identified in this proposal RHHHC should enlist the support of its student members.

6. Replacing the turf is an immediate priority. If RHHHC is not advised by mid-October that its loan is to be guaranteed RHHHC should approach its members for loans to support this project (for example 40 members lending $5,000 each). If such actions are taken they would be subject to a loan agreement and appropriate documentation (RHHHC Management Committee).

7. A report to be provided on these issues to the Senior Presentation Evening (Jeff McEwen).

8. The report of the Forum to be made available through the website and by email. Email lists to be updated and a new list created for those who wish to be advised of club developments but who are presently not playing members of RHHHC. RHHHC to consider a new category of non-voting member ‘Social Member (Michael Gunner, RHHHC Management Committee).
 

Below are two links to a video taping of the Club's recent workshop.

Part 1 is a power point presentation conducted by Junior President Meg Smith. It is approximately 1 hour in length. It will give the viewer the most up-to-date status report on our field's future.

Part 2, of about 30 minutes duration, shows reports from small group activity on the day.

Some new and interesting ideas have been generated by the workshop. Further, new avenues for the containing dialogue with the NSW Government have also been identified.

A most uptodate report will be presented by Club Executive at the Presentation night.
 
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