Albany RSL salutes the organisations who help plan Anzac Day with annual function for supporters and sponsors
Albany RSL hosted its final formal 2025 Anzac event earlier this week with its supporters and sponsors enjoying an evening at its Stirling Terrace clubrooms on Monday.
Services director Michael Tugwell welcomed more than 50 representatives to the function, which recognises the up to 65 organisations that play a part in Albany's Anzac story each year.
Support ranges from heavy involvement on the day to months of planning beforehand, Mr Tugwell told the audience, citing the RSL's longstanding collaboration with the City of Albany events team as an example.
Certificates of appreciation were handed out as Mr Tugwell promised that 2025 would prove to be an exciting dress rehearsal for Albany's bicentenary in 2026.
PR officer Nicole Edmonds thanked everyone involved.
'It's amazing to see all the groups, the volunteers, the businesses, the City of Albany events team, and Albany RSL working together like clockwork,' she said.
'When I looked around me at the dawn service and saw all those people watching in the rain, the sky starting to light up, I felt very humbled by what we had managed to do again this year.
'It would be a very hard task without all our volunteers.
'Everyone involved is there because they want to be part of Anzac Day Albany.
'We should all be proud of what we have achieved again this year.'
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West Australian
25-05-2025
- West Australian
Albany RSL salutes the organisations who help plan Anzac Day with annual function for supporters and sponsors
Albany RSL hosted its final formal 2025 Anzac event earlier this week with its supporters and sponsors enjoying an evening at its Stirling Terrace clubrooms on Monday. Services director Michael Tugwell welcomed more than 50 representatives to the function, which recognises the up to 65 organisations that play a part in Albany's Anzac story each year. Support ranges from heavy involvement on the day to months of planning beforehand, Mr Tugwell told the audience, citing the RSL's longstanding collaboration with the City of Albany events team as an example. Certificates of appreciation were handed out as Mr Tugwell promised that 2025 would prove to be an exciting dress rehearsal for Albany's bicentenary in 2026. PR officer Nicole Edmonds thanked everyone involved. 'It's amazing to see all the groups, the volunteers, the businesses, the City of Albany events team, and Albany RSL working together like clockwork,' she said. 'When I looked around me at the dawn service and saw all those people watching in the rain, the sky starting to light up, I felt very humbled by what we had managed to do again this year. 'It would be a very hard task without all our volunteers. 'Everyone involved is there because they want to be part of Anzac Day Albany. 'We should all be proud of what we have achieved again this year.'
News.com.au
30-04-2025
- News.com.au
The unwatchable NRL farce that must be brought to an end now
The sin bin has become so overused that the NRL should proactively refund an entire bay of tickets for the upcoming Magic Round. Not just out of remorse, but also so there's enough seats for all the players who'll be sat down for tackles that wouldn't blow the froth off a schooner. FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every game of every round in the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership, LIVE in 4K with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer. While they're at it, they should schedule a fourth day of play at Suncorp too, just to ensure extra time for the Bunker's pedantry. With its stop-start refereeing and tedious interventions from upstairs, round eight of 2025 will be recalled as when rugby league ground to a halt under its own dogma. Whether it was the Bunker instructing penalties from six sets ago, referees over-policing high tackles or players simulating to exploit loopholes, the game descended in to a lottery with more players marched than the preceding Anzac ceremonies. With confused officials working off a rule book written in hieroglyphics while the Bunker screams in their ear, the game's officialdom is overcooked with overreach. Remember the golden days when the sin bin was like the good cutlery? It was only used on rare occasions, usually after someone had died. But nowadays it's abused beyond the pale, with everything worthy of a 10 minute rest including tackling, defending and presence. Yep, pretty much anything can get you binned these days, unless you trip someone or knee them in the ear. If you haven't noticed, this crackdown is not only pedantic, it's also proverbially nine beers deep. After all, when you see the Tigers Fonua Pole binned for merely nursing a ball carrier on the same weekend both Dylan Edwards and Sitili Tupouniua remained on the paddock after tripping an opponent and lifting the knees in to a face respectively, somebody somewhere in the chain of command is clearly taking the wazz. Sure, we accept the NRL is getting heavy-handed in a bid to reduce concussion, but it's a strategy that's blown up in ironic fashion because it's got us all banging our heads against the wall. To be fair to the on-field referees, they have a fair bit to contend with. There's players barking in their face and fans questioning their aptitude, all while the Bunker controls their every decision from the cloud so stridently you'll spot Adam Gee paralysed in the cereal aisle at Coles soon with his hand to his ear awaiting confirmation on Cheerios or All Bran. You can also blame the rule book, with what was once a user-friendly set of rules now scaffolded with so many kneejerk amendments it looks like Homer's barbecue. Once celebrated for its breathtaking simplicity, nowadays the rules of rugby league are so complex that even Wayne Bennett can't identify a hip drop, and he's been around since it was defined as pressure to the back of the knickerbockers. The result? Its rendered the on-field referee a mere conduit for a stream of random decisions, with some penalties laughable and others just plain unidentifiable. Chris Randall's 'transgression' on Tom Dearden in the Cowboys v Titans game from Saturday and Kulikefu Finefeuiaki's on Hudson Young are cases in point, with both so undetectable they're still being screened in forensics for any traces of contact or testosterone. As for the Bunker, its contributed the heaviest to this scandal by sticking its rogue nose where it's not welcomed. The over-officiating from the off-field refs has become so rife they've even penalised Kodi Nikorima, which is hardly unacceptable except it was for a tackle he made in 2015. Worse still, it's the inconsistency that is enraging fans, with Manly's Siua Taukei'aho sin-binned past-tense for a high shot in the same game Isaah Yeo walked free after drawing blood from Tom Trbojevic's face. Sadly, this practice of halting play to sin bin players for tackles from last century has become commonplace in recent weeks, a development in the game described by Andrew Johns as 'absolutely farcical.' Sure, a loud exhaust is enough to set off Joey at the best of times, but such was the disgrace that he refused to call the closing stages of Sunday's Tigers v Sharks match. As for the players, they're hardly innocent either. Seeing Ronaldo Mulitalo in painful repose after being gently caressed by Jack Bird exhibits again how the players are equally culpable in this mess with their petticoat diving practices. Once a peculiarity as outrageous to rugby league as pickle juice, the act of simulating is now as accepted in the game as a mouthful of the pickled brine, with players having evolved with their nanny-state habitat to become as milky as the game's ideals. Thankfully, Andrew Abdo fronted up yesterday to face the music, a welcome move after the NRL stopped putting Graham Annesley in the gallows every week for his weekly briefing. The CEO has promised changes for Magic Round, guaranteeing a rollback of the Bunker's remit while also stressing there's been 'no crackdown or policy change.' But it remains to be seen whether these rogue officials heed the boss's directive of or ignore it, evidently like they've done the last few weeks.
ABC News
28-04-2025
- ABC News
Super Netball Round-Up: Fowler-Nembhard fires up Fever, Koenen sinks first super shot in two years
The last two games have been played of Super Netball round three, with the league hosting a split round across the Easter and ANZAC weekends. On Saturday, the Sunshine Coast Lightning continued their dominance over the Firebirds in the Queensland derby, 64-50. That marks six straight victories for the Lightning against their state rivals and 13 wins in their total 17 meetings throughout the history of the league. Loading Twitter content Special guest Robert Irwin may have stolen the show at UniSC at the beginning of the night, as he attended his first Super Netball game down the road from Australia Zoo and sent the crowd into a frenzy. But two long bombs in the final minute had completely shifted the focus towards Cara Koenen by the end. As the goal shooter celebrated her 100th milestone game by sinking her first super shot in two years. On Sunday, the West Coast Fever secured their first victory of the season, defeating the Melbourne Vixens on their home court at John Cain Arena, 67-57. Rob Irwin attends his first Super Netball game, delivering the match ball. ( Getty: Russell Freeman ) All eyes were on Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard as she returned to court after a heartbreaking miscarriage in January. Despite missing the entire pre-season, the Jamaican's impact was felt immediately in a Player of the Match performance. If you missed it, don't worry — we'll get you up to speed with our Super Netball Round-Up. Fowler-Nembhard fires up Fever The headline act of round three was the return of Fowler-Nembhard. Loading Instagram content The Fever goal shooter was originally supposed to sit out the 2025 season on maternity leave but tragically lost her baby in January. Last month, she gave her four week's notice required to return to the club environment, intending to make a comeback. But there was a cloud of mystery around the timing of her return, based on when she would be cleared by the doctor and high performance staff to actually play. The Fever may have looked solid in the pre-season Team Girls Cup tournament without Fowler-Nembhard, where they finished runners up to the Adelaide Thunderbirds in the final by one goal. But they've struggled to find form in the first two weeks of the official season — particularly when it comes to feeding the circle and getting quick points on the scoreboard. Two heavy losses by 18 and 13 goals saw them sink to the bottom of the ladder. Plus, they'd scored less than any other team in the league. The club were dealt another blow when news broke last Tuesday that defender Ruth Aryang had been ruled out or the rest of the season after rupturing her achilles tendon at training. Her older sister Sunday was unavailable for round three too with an ankle niggle. Ruth is due to have surgery this week, while Sunday is expected back for round four. Basically, the Fever needed Fowler-Nembhard back in the line-up ASAP and on Friday, two days before the match, the team was announced. Fowler-Nembhard's name was there and come game day, she absolutely delivered. The five-time Super Netball MVP tallied 59 goals at 97 per cent accuracy. Sunday Aryang is expected to be back on court in round four. ( Getty Images: Chris Hyde ) But as her head coach Dan Ryan pointed out, after so much emotional turmoil, what was actually more important than the result was how Fowler-Nembhard felt. Judging by the smile on her face, she was happy to be back. "We certainly acknowledge the significance of today [for Jhaniele] … She was business as usual, with a great level of calm and composure about her," Ryan said. "She loved it, and I think that's the most important thing, we all said this to her ahead of the game, it's about getting out there and doing what you love. The Vixens tried two different goal keepers against Fowler-Nembhard. ( Getty: Daniel Pockett ) "She looks amazing, and I just love seeing the confidence that she instils in everyone that she plays with … We've certainly missed her leadership, and she brought us to life." Huge kudos must go to defenders Fran Williams and Kadie-Ann Dehaney who had 14 gains between them. Both imports played out of their skins in the absence of the Aryang sisters. The unsung heroes of the night were Jess Anstiss and Jordan Cransberg in the midcourt. As the Fever pair smothered Vixens wing attack Hannah Mundy and broke the link in the opposition's front line to create opportunities for Dehaney to have a crack at loose ball. Now Fowler-Nembhard is back, replacement player Mwai Kumwenda has been relegated to a training partner and is expected to hit the court for the Fever in Super Netball Reserves. The only question remaining is what is Ryan's succession plan for the future? If Fowler-Nembhard was to try for a baby again at the end of this season, then in 2026 they'd likely find themselves back in the same sinking ship. Koenen's first super shot in two years There has been a lot said about Cara Koenen and the super shot. Koenen's dip in form and lack of super shots has been a talking point. ( Getty: Jason McCawley ) As the Lightning's third shooter Reilley Batcheldor also becomes more prolific in that area, pushing for increased court time, there is an ongoing battle between these two as to who gets to partner captain Steph Fretwell in the circle. But on the weekend, in her 100th Super Netball appearance — all as a one club player — Koenen slotted two super shots in the final minute to shrug off the criticism. Her fist pump and beaming expression let us know exactly how she felt about it too. It's been interesting to see how she has struggled with this rule innovation over the course of its six-year existence in Super Netball. Koenen was all smiles after celebrating her 100th match with two super shots. ( Getty: Russell Freeman ) It was not a popular decision and back then, other countries openly mocked it — querying how it would impact the world number one Aussie Diamonds team. Now it seems they've changed their minds. As the UK Super League, New Zealand Premiership and South African League all incorporate their own version of a two-point shot for 2025. Season Koenen's super shots Two-point accuracy 2020 4/12 30 per cent 2021 5/14 36 per cent 2022 1/6 16 per cent 2023 2/5 80 per cent 2024 0/1 0 per cent 2025 2/3 67 per cent But back to Koenen … In the first two years, she seemed happy to put up a long shot, even if it hampered her overall accuracy. Then over the past three seasons, that confidence dramatically dropped off as she developed a bit of a mental block. It was frustrating for Lightning fans, as Koenen was often spotted nailing them in the warm-ups and spoke about how she was really trying to work on that element of her game. Despite her intentions, it appeared the pressure would become to much in an actual live match scenario. Hopefully this performance now gives her the belief in her ability to shoot from the white arc. Koenen's first two outings this season haven't showed her best form and it definitely felt like this result, spurred on by the Queensland rivalry has helped to steer the shooter and her team back on track. Loading Instagram content "Credit to the team around me, as well as the coaching staff and my other shooters, because I feel their unwavering support whenever I get myself into that two-point zone," Koenen said. "It's definitely been a new challenge that I'm trying to take on more … at the end of this game the pressure was off, so it was a good little confidence boost." According to Koenen, the club moved "heaven and earth" to get her parents to the game from Magnetic Island, despite some health issues. Koenen plans to gift her playing dress, which has the 100-milestone printed on the shoulder, to her mum and dad as a thank you for their support. Mahalia Cassidy also celebrated her 100th Super Netball appearance alongside Cara. Which was a nice coincidence, as they celebrated their 50th appearance together back in 2021 too. "To be able to share this milestone with Mahalia is really special," Koenen said. "She's been a big part of my journey and is such a tenacious attacker and defender on court, with so much heart and soul off it." The ABC of SPORT Sports content to make you think... or allow you not to. A newsletter delivered each Saturday. Your information is being handled in accordance with the Email address Subscribe
