News
26/1/08
| 2007 concluded on a busy note with teamSUPPORTten hosting a highly successful Wests Wizarding World Cup Day for students and staff from Black Mountain School while teamSUPPORTeleven assisted with festivities (and musical performance) for the Camp Quality Christmas BBQ held at CISAC. Letters of appreciation are still coming in from both these events – so well done, boys from all at Not Just Footy Club. NJFC also welcome its third and latest teamSUPPORT crew from Radford, which was selected late in the school term after Year 9 Camp. | |
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| On the Sports Front, GH was privileged to manage the electric Futsal ACT Under 15 Cobras side under the flamboyant Lou Malfone (getting some managerial practice along the way from the Under 12 BELeast Krewz). The 15 Cobras performed well at the recent Nationals held in Canberra, being finally undone by a similarly if not slightly more flamboyant team from the Solomon Islands. NJFC salutes all the BELeasters who played in rep sides at this tournament as well as those participating so vigorously in the Northside Futsal competition. You have done your club proud! Be sure to download the BELeast newsletter, professionally compiled by Sarah Kimball, from the BELeast section of this webpage. | |
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| Lastly, well done to teamSUPPORTeleven and former BELeaster Ryan Carters (explosively pictured above by GH) whose exceptional performances in the Under 19 and Under 17 National Cricket titles saw him selected in an Honorary Under 17 Australian team at the conclusion of the representative season. We expect to see him sporting the baggy head-wear and to teach his national team’s colleagues how to play the sport and carry oneself with Ryan’s characteristic grace and humility. | |
18/8/07 Thanks to the teamSUPPORTeleven members who helped out with the L'Arche (Support for people with intellectual disabilities in Canberra) Disco earlier this month. Also, a special bravo to BELeaster Kieran Dixon and his mate David McMillan who are striving to raise funds for the Australian Himalayan Find, specifically for a Teacher Training Project in the Solu Khumbu region of Nepal. The boys hope to climb Pokalde Peak in the third term holidays, which at 6000m is almost as high as Camp 1 on Everest. They are living proof that being 13 years-old should not be an impediment to thinking big and doing profound things. Not Just Footy Club salutes them both. Click here to download the sponsorship form. (PDF 67KB)
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14/3/07 Well done to The Power who managed to win their touch footy Men's Open grandfinal at Dickson Ovals after irritating grown men in their pursuit of a title for three years. Their 4-3 win against The Bears was one of the most exciting games of touch footy seen at Dicko in many years. GH assures all that celebrations will continue throughout his 40th Birthday Bash on the 24/3 at Radford's TB Millar Hall. Zek Patafta will launch the 3rd edition of "Not Just Footy" (with a foreword by son, Kaz) in an evening that will also see GH exhibit his photography (and childhood photographs) and have HMT (Huitker Movement Theatre) perform his Top 40 songs - one for each year of breathing, eating and sleeping. There is truth in the rumour that you are to come to this unforgettable and fiery evening dressed as a memeber of either Peppers-era Beatles, KISS, ABBA or U2.
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8/12/06 Topping a big week, GH's book "How to Succeed Without Really Winning" was awarded the ACT Writing & Publishing award in the Non-Fiction Category (Memoir). The judges' citation read: "First-rate, original, distinguished by a congenial tone throughout. Includes an outstanding bibliography. If only we could all be so lucky as to have had George Huitker for a coach." He was naturally stoked and hopes that it will mean a few more copies get sold and read. He adds that it would make an ideal Christmas gift for your favourite coach! GH was already on a high from playing his 50th game with The Power earlier this week and is excited about his teamSUPPORT (Radford 10s) hosting of friends from Black Mountain & Woden School at Radford on Monday for a Christmas-themed sports day...
Well done to BELeast Buccaneer, Kieran Dixon who raised $400 for the Australian Himalayan Association (specifically for a hospital in Lukla) by not using his hands for 24 hours! Next year he hopes to ride a bike to Everest Base Camp in order to raise money for the same charity. Hopefully a mountain-biking shop with a big heart can sponsor him in some way and I encourage Not Just Footy Club to get behind him when he undertakes this challenge for a worthy cause.
4/12/06 GH is excited about playing his 50th consecutive Touch Footy game with The Power at Dickson today at 6.50pm, Open Men's Division. While stressing the celebration should be about this unique all-ages combo's half-century survival, he is happy that his experiment in commitment has been somewhat doable and enriching. GH would also like to announce that on December 11, the impeccable teamSUPPORT (Radford 10s) have organised a wacky sports day for their friends at Woden & Black Mountain School at the college from 10.00am. All are welcome to join in or simply view the fun in what hopefully will be a day that inspires other teamSUPPORT groups to be initiated.
14/10/06 GH was profiled by Peter Williams on ABC666 in an all-encompassing dawn interview which looked at growing up in the Canberra Region, lasting influences, being creative in the Capital, a shared contempt for penalty shoot-outs, and how charity and poetry can co-exist in sport as well as in art. GH was allowed to choose a song for the show and chose Ron Sexsmith's "Gold In Them Hills", having been inspired by the Canadian singer-songwriter (when GH was in Sydney a couple of weeks earlier for the Futsal National Schools Championship). GH feels if more people listened to Ron's music instead of "Eye of the Tiger" prior to matches they would be infinitely more centered and play with greater heart and soul as opposed to blunt power and humorless control.
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1/9/06 GH's Under 16/1 Radford side has been privileged to have Australian Paralympian Footballer Jason Driscoll train with them for the last few weeks of their season. The boys have enjoyed having him around and wish JD and the Aussie squad all the best for their November fixtures in Malaysia. Also received an e-mail from Zek Patafta letting us know that Kaz played his first game for the Benfica 1st team last week against Amadora in a pre-season friendly. The coach was exited enough by Kaz's performance that he has implemented a program for Kaz so that he could be intergrated into the 1st team over the coming season. You never know, we may see him playing champions league this year against Man U. Great news!!! Lastly, a big thank you to the Radford College Year 10 Leadership lads who helped with Wests Wacky Day today as part of teamSUPPORT (see the CHARITY section), the boys playing an integral part in leading activities for students from Woden School and Black Mountain School such as rugby, soccer, relays and cricket.
24/7/06 Congratulations to the Radford Kanga Cup Under 16 side, packed with BELeast Rrrocketz and their friends, who won their age group 3-1 against Wetherill Park. In holding aloft the trophy Captain Ryan Carters topped off what was a great holiday of sport as only days earlier he put the baggy 'yellow' on his head and represented Australia in the Under 16 Tri-Series cricket Tournament in Darwin. He averaged a scintillating 86 scoring a majestic 112 against the United Arab Emirates and a sparkling 92 against India in the final. The accompanying pic was captured by the brilliant eye of Not Just Footy Club's revered photographer Graham Tidy who now has his very own section in the Gallery. We here think he is the best sports snapper in the galaxy.
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3/6/06 GH's e-mail to Tim Gavel discussing Gus Hiddink's comments after the Australia/Greece World Cup "friendly" was read on 666's "Local Grandstand" programme today. GH wasn't too impressed with Gus seeing the need to belittle other sports with soccer/football now well & truly in the spotlight. The e-mail went as follows: "Heya Tim. Didn't get a chance to call in this morning - coaching duties like you... But I would have liked to state a little disappointment in Gus Hiddink's post-match pre-deperture press conference where he promoted soccer as the only football (I am getting tired or hearing the phrase "World Game") and belittled the rugbies/Aussie Rules codes and the shape of their ball etc. Whether playful or not (I didn't find him all that witty), real sports lovers appreciate all sports and do not need to belittle others at important press conferences. Prior to soccer's recent surge in popularity in this country, I remember the rugby players passing my trainings and sledging my team and the game and ethnicity and other socio-economic jibes. I vowed if in the future the tables turned I would turn the other cheek. Gus should have welcomed the genuine and renewed interest of folk outside of soccer and from other codes rather than put them off-side (so to speak). As Heather (Reid) suggested, it's just nomenclature that's become far too important in silly people's eyes. Regards and revisit my book -it may help you with your coaching!!! George Huitker."
14/1/05 GH has just returned from the Gold Coast where his impressive and endearing ACT 12 Cobras narrowly went down to arch-enemies NSW in the National Finals, 4-2. As you can see from the pic below, the boys managed to hit the beaches between competition and secured some modelling as well as footballing contracts. Special congrats to all the BELeastian state reps who did the territory proud throughout this tough competition - particularly Sam Carters & Tom Hutchison (12s), and Geoff Calvert, Adrian Stroh & Will Sheppard (15s) who were in ACT teams which made the finals. A sterling achievement, lads!
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On return GH has found out that the 19th Hole Productions film, "Perfect", will be screened at the Tuggeranong Arts Centre from the 10 -14th of February. As a sprinkling of his charges from indoor and outdoor teams appear (as well as himself) in this film in a soccer scene no less (!), it may interest NJF Club followers to attend. Bookings on (02) 6293 1443. |
14/12/05 Lookout for Neil Jameson’s review of “How to Succeed…" in the January edition of “Inside Sport”. It’s above Ricky Ponting’s Ashes Tour Diary (and got a better review than Ricky’s…)
13/10/05 Sporting the Dutch outdoor strip, the BELeast Unitedz played the new Futsal club’s first ever match at Daramalan College. The remaining nine teams will join them over the following week in what promises to be an exciting first season for the club. Watch out for the club newsletter “Be Least” in the TEAMS section, concocted by the effervescent and ever-supportive Sarah Kimball...
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27/9/05 Congratulations to the ACT Under 12 Cobras who successfully defended their title with colour and panache at the National Schools Futsal tournament at Windsor yesterday, accounting for NSW in the final after an explosive start (4 goals in as many minutes). GH informs us that the post-victory stacks-on was quite painful and included some rogue elements from the spectactor population. |
26/9/05 J.Neville Turner presented a paper at Footfall Fever: Moving the Goalposts, an Annual Conference of the Victorian University of Football Studies Unit entitled "Children's Rights in Sport: A Blueprint From an Enlightened Australian Soccer Coach". The paper discusses issues raised in How to Succeed Without Really Winning with the hope it serves as "a blueprint for a serious charter for children's sport rthat might have legal sanctions". Turner's review of the book in Sporting Traditions is reproduced on this webpage.
| 19/9/05 Best wishes to Joey’s captain Kaz Patafta and his team as they represent Australia in the FIFA Under 17 World Championships in Peru, starting with an opening match against Turkey in Lima tomorrow. The Not Just Footy Club will be watching not only this game, but Kaz’s international career with pride and admiration. (Kaz somehow found time to send us an e-mail prior to this championship which was full of optimism, information and his customary enthusiasm. Shine on you Kazzy diamond!) |  |
21/8/05 In today's Canberra Times, in the "Relax" supplement, was a fantastic 2-page spread promoting "How to Succeed Without Really Winning". Please use it to promote the book in turn! Thanks to Philip O'Brien for an insightful article which, in his usual deft fashion, covers a lot of ground in 800 words. We'd have Phil in our midfield any day. Thanks also to Helen Musa for giving a local writer the same space as Jimmy Barnes and Christie Brinkley!
12/8/05 The launch of "How to Succeed Without Really Winning" went off smoothly with close to a hundred in attendance enjoying lamingtons, jellysnakes, sausages and the Eaglehawk Wolf Blass. Ross Solly and John Leyshon left us with heaps to think about - even if they focussed too much on AFL - and a goodly number of books were sold and signed and will hopefully be savoured. Congrats to George Martin who won the juggle-off and even admitted in public to belonging to Woden Valley! (Joke, OK! Joke...) Asher Groves and Will Sheppard gave spirited competition. And Ross was as good as his word: the next day he risked his job and played KISS's "I was Made for Loving You" on morning ABC radio. We salute you, Solly!
7/8/05 Press has been good to the new book. We had a nice ad in Artlook as well as mention in The Canberra Times' Lit Bits and Diary Dates (yesterday & today) of Tuesday's launch. Looking out for the bigger article some time this week and (hopefully) Claire Melloy's awesome photos of the male models.
4/8/05 GH started today with the Futsal ACT 12 Cobras doing some agility and pumpin' iron and they are absolute legend little gents. Names to watch out for in the future include: Daniel Barac, Josh Calabria, Sammy Carters, Joey Chapman, Tim Denne, Jason Geria, Tom Hutchison, Ryan Keir, George Martin and Dom Smedley .
3/8/05 GH was on Alex Sloane's morning show ABC666 with Tim Gavel talking about the book today. They had a good laugh and talked about parent-from-hell umbrella wars. An article by Phil O'Brien is expected in The Canberra Times early next week.
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