The Steamtug Blog

Is it just me? Or has this year just flown past? I know I have been busy with the project I am working on at work, but it only seems such a short time ago that the 2012 underwater hockey season started, and now it’s over all too soon. So to celebrate such a great year of hockey, we all went to Bancoora Beach near Geelong for a swim in the surf, a few beers, and eat our pizza while holding the annual general meeting.

We were planning to take my boat Adaqua over to Eastern Beach, but the weather man hinted he had strong winds planned for the day, so we took the soft option and headed down to the surf beach over on the ocean side. It was overcast with a cool wind blowing from the East, and I looked over the sea and thought… “Nuut… I aint going in there” But then Barry, one of our underwater hockey club’s oldest members and our host at the surf club said it was compulsory to get wet.

So we all donned our wetsuits, except Martin who was a “superman” and went in without a wet suit, did some surfing and lasted longer than any mere mortal human! Well done Martin!! It was actually nice once we got in, then saw Barry come scooting over the sand dunes in the club beach buggy with some of the kids in the back, and a trailer with the inflatable boat on the back. It was also filled with surf boards, so we all grabbed some gear and had a ball!

We rowed the boat out and surfed back in… great fun! Paddled on the boards and just generally had a great time. We had the whole beach to ourselves as it was a bit too cold for normal people.

After playing, we all got cleaned up with a hot shower, ordered our pizzas and kicked back in the club rooms. I had brought a few big soft drink bottles filled with beer, and passed it around for people to have a taste of what real home cooked beer tasted like. They all approved and told me it I should bring more beer next time.

As we munched our pizzas, we talked over, in a rough fashion, our annual general meeting. At a meeting a couple of years ago, they made me President of the club. When I look back at what we have achieved since I was president, we have made up some banners and signs which has boosted the low numbers in the club back to a level where we can survive and have enough players for a good game each Wednesday night. I have also introduced once a month, Sunday afternoon games. I am also proud to say that we have pushed a few of our junior players so that we have 3 from our team going to represent our state in Tasmania for the Australian championships. Maybe my start player Erik will end up representing Australia next year? Well, he is good!

Everyone was so happy with what I have done with the club, that they voted me back as President for the 3rd year! Why don’t you come and play with us… Wednesday nights at Geelong Waterworld pool. Here is a link to our website….

www.geelongunderwaterhockey.org.au

Now a thought for the coming holiday period…

As we approach the holidays…