President’s report

We also saw the Collegians Football Club undertake another season of finals campaigns, resulting in a Premiership for the Under 19 Men’s team coached by the OWCA Board’s very own, Rick Morris (OW2004). Congratulations to Rick and the boys, along with all other Collegians players involved in the season this year.

The Collegians Football Club is a proud affiliate of the OWCA whom we support via our annual sponsorship and contribution to the Collegians Future Fund, which you can find out more about if you head to the Australian Sports Foundation website, and search Collegians FC Future Fund. The Future Fund is a joint initiative between the OWCA and Collegians Football Club to future proof the organisation financially. Anyone is welcome to make a contribution to the Future Fund and we encourage any support possible.

In October, Luca Jolson (OW2022) and I spoke at the St Kilda Road and Glen Waverley Valedictory Dinners respectively, welcoming the Class of 2024 to the OWCA. Always a proud moment for the President and Board members to attend and welcome new cohorts to the OWCA, and this year was just as special. We welcome you once again and hope you take advantage of all that your Life Membership can offer – it really is a rich and special network.

As a committee, we continue to work towards achieving our strategic vision for the next three years and plans are being prepared for how we deliver on key pillars of this strategy. Our ‘Golden Lions’ social engagement strategy continues with the commencement of our first chauffeur service by Frank Opray (OW1963) to a Collegians football match in the final month of the season. We are proud to commence this offering for our Golden Lions, and we welcome anyone to contact us should you wish to use this service to access an OWCA event in the future. We will provide an Uber, taxi or fellow OW to pick you up and drive you to any of our events – and of course, drop you home!

Finally, we are proud that the Collegians Car Club (CCC) has been struck and officially acknowledged as an affiliate of the OWCA. For any classic or modern car lovers in our community, feel free to reach out to the OWCA office who can connect you with our new car club which serves as a group to enjoy the passion of cars through your OW connection. The CCC will also be proudly showcasing their range of member vehicles at their next OW Auto Day on Sunday 23 March, 2025. We welcome all expressions of interest to showcase your vehicle and encourage you to attend this event.

That’s a wrap from me this year – I wish all OWs, parents and teachers a Merry Christmas and a safe and Happy New Year from the OWCA. We look forward to seeing you at one of our many and varied events in 2025.