President's Monday Musings

From the pen of Marist St Pats President, John Spillane...

Last Friday evening a crowd of more than 200 club members gathered in our clubrooms for the 2024 season prizegiving – a night of celebration and reflection.

The event itself was sensational – with representatives from every team - most in the No1’s, and all there to wind up what has been a successful 2024 season.

For those of you who couldn’t be there I thought I would provide a “Monday Musing” that summarized the areas where I believe the Red Machine has enjoyed success in 2024.

These are the areas where I saw success:

It was in fielding six competitive rugby teams and two competitive netball teams this season – which is a really big achievement in the current environment.
It’s about Billy having a stellar Super Rugby season and getting into the All Blacks and having a brilliant debut against Fiji – the first of many games for our Club Mate.
It is a full, noisy Clubrooms on a home weekend – with players proudly wearing their number 1’s or their international blazers and enjoying being part of the Red Machine.
It is seeing our chairman and coaches in their playing strip on a Saturday – fronting up for the Red Machine when injury impacted player numbers
It’s about an active Junior Club – from which future Jubilee Cup winners will emerge.
It’s about Poto and Maria setting up the Clubrooms every weekend and turning it around again so our hirer can use the facility during the week.
It’s about welcoming new players – form all over the globe and integrating them into our Club effortlessly.
It’s the Reserve Internationals winning their competition – again – legends.
It is witnessing selfless acts – such as … players playing for the team that needed them and coaches releasing those players to do so without hesitation.
It’s about the Prem 2’s fielding more than 60 players during the season and bouncing back from a 90-point hiding early in the season and going on to make the semi finals
It is in seeing the look on players’ faces as they listen with respect and a degree of ore to coaches – legends like Sean, Brendan, Bernie and Tovio.
It is in watching players mature and grow throughout the season
Its training on wet cold nights

It’s in seeing someone run out for their first game in the Scarlet Jersey or celebrating big milestones like:
- Nick Harrisons’ 100 premier games
And the achievements of some of our all-conquering Internationals, like
- Alex Baylis - 50 games
- Mike Bridges - 100 games
- 200 games for Nathan Simpson and Cameron Bath - and
- An incredible 250 games Pena Fretton
It is in seeing players take their empties back to the bar when they have finished their drink and saying thank you to Lina and Maria for the food that is served to them after our home games.
It’s about standing back and serving the opposition first – even though you are starving.
It’s about pizzas in the Clubrooms after our social commitee had spent six hours decorating our home ahead of a big Club night
It’s in seeing the Juniors and their parents still in the Clubrooms at 10.30pm – after a junior’s event
It’s in the efforts of the Holden Bros. regular social media updates and through the live streaming of games for all who can’t be present on the day.
It’s about a big crowd of supporters on the sideline of a game – and the joy of a win and the disappointment of a loss – and the beer with mates after
Its seeing a crowded Island Bay Bowling Club full of MSP supporters – all there to hear from our new Director of Rugby ahead of the 2024 season
It’s in Matt Calvert’s 300Kg BBQ – that feeds the entire Club
It is in Lina’s pork buns – and the look on the face of visitors to our Clubrooms as they sample one of these delicacies for the first time
It’s seeing hard grafting James Zino’s smiling face walking through the door of the clubrooms after a hard game.
It’s in seeing our boys in the opposition’s Clubrooms after an away game – in their Number 1’s – respectfully enjoying the hosts’ hospitality and the camaraderie that makes rugby such a great game.
It’s in our Netballers making their semi - final which was this weekend – so I am hoping they aced that.
It’s hearing Porky and Soody analytically debriefing after a game – providing balanced commentary and offering measured and considered advice to the coaches and players over a cold Lion Brown or 2.
It is in hearing visitors to our Clubrooms say how great our facilities are and how welcomed they felt here
It’s in hosting the annual Presidents weekend – with all the other old fellas here – talking the same BS they were all talking 20 years ago.
It is seeing the players gain an understanding about the uniqueness of the Red Machine and really feeling a love for this wonderful Club - and -
It’s about welcoming all this year’s players back next year – as players, coaches, managers and lifelong supporters

So, as I look back on the 2024 season, I can honestly say that I believe it was a success.

I believe we have come a long way in just one season – but we still have more to do, and I hope and pray that we can rely on you all to support us as we take on the challenges that the 2025 season ahead will no doubt bring.

Just before I close – I want to recognize the extraordinary efforts of one individual who was not recognized at the prizegiving – even though he would have been a shoo-in in quite a few categories.

The reason he wasn’t recognized was that he was on the committee that selected some of the prize winners, and he would never allow his name to be discussed

I am talking about Lourdaiz.

History will say that in 2024 Lourdaiz Ah Chong was the Chairman of Marist St Pats – but we all know he was so much more.

He was also a player, cook, fundraiser, organizer, decorator, greeter, host, MC, recruiter, marketer, cleaner, barman and passionate MSP man.

He was literally involved in everything – and his huge energy and enthusiasm is a big part of the success I referred to earlier.

Lourdaiz is a class act who welcomes and involves new people into the Club and still has time for us dinosaurs – listening patiently to our stories of how it used to be - and making us feel relevant.

I know from talking to Lourdaiz that he is working to assemble an even stronger group next year and that he is determined to make 2025 a really huge year for the Club.

If you are interested in playing, coaching or volunteering at Marist St Pats in 2025, email us at msprugby@xtra.co.nz