Easts Celts wish all players, supporters and families a very merry Christmas and happy new year.

Many thanks to everyone who has put in the hard yards on and off the field this year, it's these efforts that keeps the club going strong.

Hope to see you all back in 2007 for what shapes as an exciting year for the Celts as we celebrate our 25 year anniversary!

Matt & Rebecca Huggett

Congratulations to Matt Huggett and Rebecca Houston who celebrated their wedding recently.

Matt has been a popular member of the Easts senior team over the past 4 years and a hardworking committee member. Rebecca played in 2004 with the ladies team.

Everyone at Easts Celts wishes them both all the best as Mr & Mrs Huggett and good luck for the future together at Moranbah.

Jeremy Thompson

Easts farewell Jeremy Thompson, who is returning to his home state of Western Australia.

Mens Captain in 2006, Jeremy won the Easts Seniors best and fairest two years running (2005, 2006), as well as representing Queensland at the Australasian Championships in Perth this year.

The Celts wish Jeremy the best of luck for the future and hope to see him again one day in the blue and gold of Easts (or the maroon of Queensland?)

Congratulations to the Easts players selected for the Queensland teams competing in the 2006 Australasian Championships in Perth.

MENS TEAM: David Barry, Jeremy Thompson
MINORS TEAM: Shane McNamara
WOMENS TEAM: Karen Edgerton

Easts players, families, and supporters enjoyed the 2006 Awards Night held at Gaelic Park, Willawong.

Congratulations to the award winners and thanks to the bar staff and bbq cooks for their help on the night.

 2006 Easts Celts Award Winners

John Mitchels 2-24 (30) d Easts Celts 0-0 (0)

Harps 9-40 (67) d Easts Celts 0-0 (0)

Easts Celts d Harps (Forfeit)

Easts Celts 3-10 (19) d John Mitchels 2-2 (8)

The Celts Win the Sports Day!

With an early 10am start it was all guns blazing for both the Mens and Ladies teams, with a number of games each. A few wins and a few losses were a good example of the game of Gaelic Football, in particular for all of our new recruits who were having a go for the first time.

On the main pitch in front of the crowds, the kids began first with their events and then the weary footballers gave it their all and came up with a few wins as well. Special mention goes out to the Ryan family who came out in full force to enter all of the events. Sean and Des Ryan have been organisers of the sports events since the early days. The Ryan's have been great supporters of Easts for a number of years now, with Sean, Dave and Owen having played and Sean and Anne's business (Fiddlers Elbow). It's great to see they are still a very big part of the Celts family.

The last event of the Day was the Tug-o-War, which was definately an interesting event to watch, Dave Ryan and Matt Huggett wearing their matching blue bonds singlets must have surely contributed to a strong win in the final round. These guys were strong and the win was definately well deserved.

We may have just missed out on getting into the Gaelic Finals but our participation in the athletics events and a number of big wins brought us up to first place and the Mighty Easts Celts were the winners of the St Patricks Sports Day. Congratulations to everyone, this is the first official piece of shiny silver for the season so lets hope there are many more to come for the year.

A huge thank you to everyone who participated, the players, the athletes, the sports day committee, the QGFA committee and volunteers who worked the kitchen, bar, bbq and events. There was a strong Easts spirit throughout the day and we should all be proud of our efforts.

If anyone has photo's of the day please send them through to our webmaster

Cheers
Ronnie

Along with the President of the QGFA, Emma Spranklin, I attended the St Patricks Ball, both of us representing the Queensland Association.

The annual ball was run by the Irish Business Association. Many members of the association currently do, or in the past have supported the sport of Gaelic Football in Queensland. In more recent times sponsoring the Australasian Games which were held at Willawong last October.

It was a lovely evening and great opportunity to help promote Gaelic Football amonst the Irish Community and at the same time supporting the people who support us. It would be great to see some more members of Easts and other clubs attend this event in future years.

Cheers
Ronnie

One of our members Anita Woodward (Woody) is a PE teacher at Balmoral High School and has introduced Gaelic Football as one of the sports on offer in her PE programme. Some of the Easts committee members were invited to Balmoral High School to watch a special St Patricks Day game between Students and Teachers.

It was great to see the game that we love so much being played in the school system. Junior development in gaelic football is a tough task with so many other sports to compete with; educating students on the game and making them aware the sport is alive and well in Brisbane is a wonderful step forward.

The students did manage to beat the teachers in the end but the game showed a lot of determination and skill on both sides. Great work Woody, we look forward to seeing this an annual event at Balmoral High School.

Cheers
Ronnie

2006 Easts Celts St Patricks Day Parade Photos

As the sun was beating down at a moderate time on 9.30am on Saturday morning the teams of Yellow and Blue were decorating the "Beast" (aka Greg's ute) to help promote the Mighty Celts in the best possible way. Banners in club colours and all of the St Patricks Day trimmings contributing to the colourful and characteristic march. It is rumoured that this could be Brisbane's last march so it was great to be part of what has been a tradition here for the last 17 years.

It was a moderate turnout for the Celts but we put a good effort into our display and thanks to the return from London of Nicole Borzatti with some cool Blue and Yellow flags from respective clubs in Ireland we marched with club pride from George Street in the City to St Patricks Cathedral in the Valley. A few cool ales in the church yard went down a treat as we mingled with many people from the Irish Community.

Off to Dooleys we then went for a few more drinks, and good old fashioned Craic, I'm sure there are lots of photo's to prove a good time was had by all, if you have any please pass them onto the webmaster Greg to showcase on our website.

A big thank you for those who participated in the march and helped us party on afterwards. The march has always been and important day to get the message out to the Brisbane Community that Gaelic Football is well and alive in Brisbane and it's a fun way to kick start the season.

The festivities are just warming up for the Celts, this Friday the 17th of March is of course St Patricks Day and we have been offered a sponsorship bonus from the Pig n Whistle at Indooroopilly if we get the most Gaelic Football Club members there on the night. So please make sure you are there and make sure you bring all your friends, family, grannies, everyone along to be a part of this big night. Easts really need some serious funding and by supporting this night you are helping your club obtain much needed equipment for the season. See you all there on Friday Night (come and see Ronnie when you get there).

Don't forget the round robin comp this Sunday too at the Annual Sports Day, this is another St Patricks Day tradition that is great to be a part of.

Cheers
Ronnie

Fees
The Season's fees were set at the last committee meeting at $130 which is the same as the last couple of years. High School Students are $65 and Social Membership is $50.

Due dates for payments are as follows:
March 26th - Minimum $40 payment required to take the field in a game.
April 30th - $45 Required
May 31st - $45 Required.
Please pay fees to Nathan, Dave or Vicki.

Socks
We have just ordered in some Easts socks, for anyone wanting to purchase a pair (bargain $6) please see Veronica at training or game days.

Assembly from 9.30am on George street (Near Adelaide Street) in the City.

The Annual St Patricks Day March is a big part in the Gaelic Football calendar. We are Marching with other QGFA clubs in the procession starting in George Street in the city and ending at St Patricks Cathedral in Fortitude Valley for a drink and then off to Dooleys for lots of good old Irish Craic.

Please let your team managers know if you are marching in the parade (friends, family and kids are welcome to march too!).

Below are assembly details, we are float number 22. Black pants or denim are acceptable and we will have Easts jerseys that can be worn for the parade. Anyone who wants to wear the full kit (easts footy shorts, socks, jersey) please let your team manager know. The jerseys will be collected again at the end of the parade.

Please make sure that you are at the assembly area on time.

Don't forget to tell your friends, family etc to come and support us and watch the march starting at 10.30am.

See you all on Saturday for a big day.

Cheers, Ronnie

2006 St Pats Day Parade Layout

2006 St Pats Day Parade Instruction Letter

Veronica Snowdon Easts Secretary 2006

A big thank you to everyone who attended the first event on the Easts Calendar this year the Fundraising BBQ and AGM.

Firstly congratulations to those who were successful in obtaining position's on the committee. This is going to be a great year for Easts and I can see the enthusiasm of the new committee is going to make Easts a proud club within the Queensland Association. It was a great meeting with an impressive attendance and many positive subjects were discussed.

And what a great night the fundraiser BBQ was, the food was good the drinks went down well and the night was a great way to catch up with everyone in preparation for the upcoming footy season. A very very big thank you to Chris and Annette Guice who allowed us to host the party at their house. We raised some much needed funds, and had a great time doing it. The night wouldn't have been possible without the preparation and donation's of the committee. Most of the drinks and food and raffle prizes were all donated so thanks to everyone who contributed.

The next big event is our test of skill when the Seniors Men play a game of Gaelic against the AFL Umpires at Willawong on Thursday the 9th of February. So time to dust of the footy boots guys. It's also a great opportunity for the girls to get together for a pre-season meet at the Wong and to support our Seniors mens team and cheer them on.

Hope to see you all soon.

Cheers
Ronnie

2006 Easts Celts Committee

2006 Easts Celts Coaches and Managers

Chris Guice Easts Seniors Mens Coach 2006

Welcome to what is shaping up to be a very exciting year for East's Celts.

I would like to take this opportunity to invite all players to get involved, participate and us together accepting the challenge of fielding teams in men's senior, reserve and ladies divisions. Dov is coaching the reserves team with the ladies coach to be announced shortly. David Barry has put his hand up to be team manager for the senior men's team, good on you David!

In 2006 each and every one of us has the opportunity and challenge before us to get East's back to a power on the field, to achieve this it comes down to simple common values: hard work, commitment and self discipline. Sprinkle enthusiasm over it all and you have the basic ingredients! Each and every person has a valuable contribution and important role to play in achieving our team goals. We shall together develop these team goals as we progress through the year. I am also looking forward to working with each player in helping you enjoy your football, achieve your own personal goals and being the best you can be.

For the men, the season "kicks off' with a match against the AFLQ umpires at Willawong on Thursday the 9th of February commencing at 6.15pm sharp, from then on every Wednesday at Bulimba commencing at 6.30pm sharp.

Many of us have experienced the joy of personal achievement and team success on the field, 2006 can be anything we want it to be, it's a matter of understanding, accepting and actioning that of what is required, make that decision, have a red hot go and we can achieve anything!!!!!!!

Chris Guice
Senior Men's Coach
19/1/06

Congratulations to Stevie and Stacey Ryan who gave birth to a baby boy on Thursday the 12th of January. Baby Ben Joseph and family are all doing well.