Happy Pride Month everyone 🌈🎉 At St Mary’s we believe in creating a safe and inclusive space for everyone, regardless of their gender identity or sexual orientation. We encourage our community to take this opportunity to educate themselves on the LGBTQIA+ community, learn about their history, the struggles they face, and ways we can support them at our club.
Players across our netball and football teams shared the small actions they’re committing to take in National Reconciliation Week and beyond that will go some way to improving reconciliation in Australia.
We’re challenging our community to complete 3,144 pushups over 23 days to shine a spotlight on the number of lives lost to suicide in 2021. Don’t worry if you’re not a push-up fan, you can swap it out for a lunge, squat or whatever works!
By participating in this challenge, you’ll not only improve your own fitness but also contribute to a worthy cause – mental health awareness.
Each pushup will symbolise our commitment to better mental health for our community.
In the spirit of National Reconciliation Week, St Mary’s is proud to acknowledge the Wurundjeri Woi-Wurrung people of the Kulin Nation as traditional custodians of the land on which we play, train and gather.
Woi-Wurrung means ‘The Yarra People’ and these people have lived on the land for over 35,000 years.
There were four Woi-Wurrung clans. One of them called Wurundjeri Balug was divided into Wurndjeri willam and the Balug Willam. It was Bebejan’s Mob part of the Wurundjeri willam that occupied the Yarra River within Banyule. In fact the heir of this Mob was famous Aboriginal artist William Barak who is arguably one of the most significant figures in Woi-Wurrung history having witnessed the signing of Batman’s treaty and being of the last clan chiefs.
Today marks the start of National Reconciliation Week (NRW), a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia. The theme this year is ‘Be a voice for generations,’ and encourages all Australians to be a voice for reconciliation in tangible ways in our everyday lives – where we live, work and socialise. As part of this, we will be sharing educational information and resources and encourage everyone in our club to think about how you can support reconciliation on a personal level. For more information visit Reconciliation Australia.
Located just around the corner on Diamond Creek Rd, The Chiropractic Co provide high calibre, quality care to help you be your best on and off the field this year. The team express a fresh new outlook on the allied health industry, in a modern space where all necessary facilities are provided, including onsite spinal X-Rays complimentary to structural based care.
Join us in promoting road safety and help us earn our club up to $10,000.
At St Mary’s we believe in creating safer roads for everyone, but we need your support to make a difference in our community. Together, we can raise awareness about road safety and save lives.
Here’s how you can help us reach our goal and contribute to a safer community:
Spread the word: Share our posts and let your friends, family, and followers know about TAC Club Rewards.
Follow us: Stay updated on our road safety initiatives, tips, and events.
Engage with our content: Like, comment, and share our road safety messages
Share your tips and experiences using #TACClubRewards and #SMFNC
Remember, every action you take helps us get closer to $10,000.
As National Volunteer Week comes to an end, our players are sending a big thank you to the volunteers that ensure they can keep playing the sports they love at St Mary’s!
We’re so pleased to share that this season our netball team will be supported by local bar Jaga Jaga, located on the Main Street in Greensborough, just a short walk from the Club!
Each week the best player will receive a $25 voucher to go and enjoy a delicious dinner and drinks at Jaga Jaga. With woodfired pizzas and a huge range of cocktails, you’re guaranteed to have a great time!
We encourage everyone to visit Jaga Jaga and experience their wonderful hospitality and lively atmosphere firsthand 🍕🍸
Don’t forget to let them know you’re from St Marys!
Meet Terry Derham, a man who has dedicated 32 years of his life to volunteering for St Mary’s.
Terry’s journey began in 1991 when his two eldest boys, Brett and Matt, expressed an interest in playing footy. Despite juggling a busy schedule with work, part-time study and four kids, Terry found time to give back to the club.
On the first day Terry arrived, the tackers coach Ross Carlson introduced himself and immediately asked Terry to be team manager. He had no idea what it entailed but happily agreed and did the job for the next 3 years before taking on his next challenge – coaching.
Despite never having played footy himself (his kids get their sporting skills from his wife Maree) he stepped up and coached his son’s Brett’s team when no other parent would, studying books and videos to improve his skills and knowledge. In just his second year of coaching, the team made finals. Although ever humble Terry insists it’s only because he promised they could throw him in the Plenty River if they made it. They made it and Terry can now say he’s been thrown in the Plenty River!
When his son Shane, now known as ‘Glove’, started tackers they also needed a coach and it’s no surprise Terry put up his hand to help. Terry loved these Friday’s as after training he’d open the bar and encourage the players and parents to socialise. According to Terry, mothers would be ringing at 8pm asking where their husband and son were!
“It was a great way to break down barriers to volunteering. When you form connections and friendships with people at the club, it become much easier to encourage them to get involved and contribute,” shared Terry.
Terry’s commitment to the Junior Club only continued to grow as he joined the committee. His hard work and dedication at the Junior Club were recognised when he was awarded Life Membership in 2003, along with his wife Maree, who he says he “couldn’t do any of this” without.
However, Terry’s volunteer work didn’t end after 18 years with the junior club. He was also instrumental in creating the senior club, serving as our first secretary and thus a founding committee member. This meant that his eldest son Brett, who had to go elsewhere to play senior footy could come back to St Mary’s and his daughter Clare could become more involved as part of the netball team.
In 2010 he became the first Senior Team Manager and then the Reserves team Manager two months later, a role he has held for 13 years (and counting) with a little bit of time off. He was the Team manager of the successful Reserves Teams that won three three premierships in a row!
Of course, we also must mention the famous ‘Turtle Time’. Terry collects any belongings left behind each week and in Covid-19 his pet turtle Ninja started posing with the items, giving everyone a smile and a laugh during a difficult time. It’s been so popular that it continues today!
Terry’s commitment has not waned over the years, and his passion for the club has clearly been passed down to his children, with his daughter still playing netball and his son Shane still playing footy. Terry also can’t wait for his grandkids to start Auskick in the next few years!
As for what keeps him going, it’s the incredible people that are part of our community.
“I love the club and the people. It’s been part of my life for 30 years now and I can’t imagine not being part of it.”
“Seeing the kids grow up and develop their skills and great friendships and being part of that process is really special. It’s why we all need to volunteer; it’s for our kids. If we don’t do it, they won’t have these fantastic clubs and communities to grow up around.”
“But it’s the people that keeps me coming back. I’ve made so many friends through volunteering and I feel like I’m part of something bigger than myself. That’s what it’s all about.”
Terry is an integral part of our community and his positive attitude and unwavering commitment have earned him the respect of everyone who knows him.
Terry’s story is a reminder of the vital role that volunteers play in community clubs. As Terry continued to give back, we can all follow his example and strive to make a difference in our St Mary’s community and make a lasting impact on the world around us.
SMFNC 