21st May 09
	NSW TOUCH   PO Box 27 Bardwell Park NSW 2207   P: 1800 640 668 E: admin@nswtouch.com.au W:  www.nswtouch.com.au		In This Issue NSW TOUCH ASSOCIATION BLUES AWARDS STATE CONFERENCE NORTHERN NSW JUNIOR CHALLENGE TRANS TASMAN TESTS AT 14/16 REGIONALS TECHNICAL COURSES UPDATE UPCOMING TOURNAMENTS

NSW TOUCH ASSOCIATION BLUES AWARDS As previously advised, the 2008 NSWTA Awards are currently open. Nominations for Blues awards are still being accepted. The Blues Awards are volunteer recognition awards and are for any person who as seen by the nomination have contributed and has devoted their time (honorary) to the enjoyment of others. It could be a long standing committee person, it could be the lady who mans the canteen every week or it could be the person who turns up every week and puts the hats out for referees. If they have contributed to your organisation, then they are deserving of nomination. Please ensure that your nominations are forward to this office no later than close of Business Friday May 29th. Contact your development officer or the NSWTA office if you are not sure how to nominate. STATE CONFERENCE A reminder to all that the NSWTA State Conference will again be taking place at the Bankstown Sports Club on Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 July 2009. Details of content and presenters will be announced shortly. This even is an invaluable tool to up skill your volunteers and network with other affiliates who share the same goals, problems and solutions as you face, Included in the conference will be four streams, Administration/Volunteers, Coaching, Refereeing and Selecting. Also included in the Conference Package is the gala NSWTA Blues Dinner. Conference Outline Friday 17 July NSWTA will host a country delegates meet and greet at the Vawdon Cup. Saturday 18 July Day One of the Conference. Sunday 19 July Day Two of the Conference. To assist affiliates attend the conference, the NSWTA will again provide financial incentives. NSWTA will fully fund one delegate from each affiliate for the Conference costs, with a subsidised costing for each subsequent delegate an affiliate sends. There is also a travel component subsidy to assist country affiliates attend. Delegate Costs- 1st Delegate-                FREE OF CHARGE 2nd Delegate-               $55.00 plus accommodation @ $80 per night. 3rd Delegate-                $140.00 plus accommodation @ $80 per night. 4th Delegate-                $180.00 plus accommodation @ $80 per night. Travel Subsidy- all affiliates will be sent advice as to what tier they fall under. Tier 1 Affiliates               Nil Tier 2 Affiliates               up to $150.00 Tier 3 Affiliates               up to $250.00 Tier 4 Affiliates               up to $350.00 Each affiliate who sends a delegate for the full conference and Blues Dinner will be eligible to WIN a new Laptop computer provided by the NSWTA under the Special Grants program. NORTHERN NSW JUNIOR CHALLENGE Recently the Board has held lengthy discussions around the situation many northern and northwest affiliates find themselves in with regard to providing pathways for their juniors. Many wish to attend the NSWTA Junior State Cup, however its current location it is limiting for them due to the travel time required. The Board is sympathetic to this situation and while they obviously wish all NSW affiliates attend the NSW Junior State Cup we can see that this may not be possible. With that in mind they instructed the office to investivate the possibility of an event to facilitate the northern and northwest affiliates. It is our intent to run a Junior Challenge event in the northern region of NSW with a preliminary time line of two weeks following the 2010 Junior State Cup. There needs to be far more planning to be accomplished, however this is exciting news for our northern and northwest affiliates and one that we felt we should announce immediately. We look to release the actual date and venue in the coming weeks. TRANS TASMAN TESTS AT 14/16 REGIONALS Australia completed a resounding defeat of the Kiwis at the recently held Trans Tasman Test Series. The Aussies won eight (8) of the nine (9) tests, however these matches were both exciting and close. The highlight for NSWTA was the Anzac Test Match held in conjunction with 14/16 Regional's. A crowd of more that 1500 people, youth and parents alike, witnessed a moving Anzac Ceremony prior to an entertaining Mixed Open Test won by Australia. The star of the match was NSW's and Penrith's Ben Moylan, who only two years earlier had been playing in the 14/16 Regional event. While the Womens and Mixed Teams were able to wrap up the series in two Tests, the Australian Mens were stretched to a decider following New Zealands last second victory in the 2nd Test. This will make for exciting television when the Saturday night games are televised on Fox 2, we believe on July 4. Results Mens Open 1st Test              Australia 14 def New Zealand 10 2nd Test             New Zealand 9 def Australia 8 3rd Test              Australia 5 def New Zealand 3 Womens Open 1st Test              Australia 9 def New Zealand 2 2nd Test             Australia 5 def New Zealand 2 3rd Test             Australia 8 def New Zealand 6 Mixed Open 1st Test              Australia 9 def New Zealand 5 2nd Test             Australia 9 def New Zealand 7 3rd Test              Australia 11 def New Zealand 10 TECHNICAL COURSES UPDATE NSWTA Technical Course Weekend 2009 The NSWTA will once again be running a number of technical courses over the weekend of 12, 13 & 14 June 2009 at Bankstown Sporting Club, Bankstown. Each course has an associated cost for course materials, lunches, refreshments, administration fees and accreditation. The following touch courses will be conducted: Referee Retention and Recruitment Program Scheduled for: Friday evening, Saturday and Sunday. Cost: FREE the NSWTA fully subsidises this course, there is no cost to the participant. This course has two accreditation components: -Course Presenter Components - Friday evening and Saturday. -Referee Coaching Accreditation - Sunday. Level 1 Coaching Course Scheduled for: Saturday Cost: $95 Level 2 Coaching Course Scheduled for: Friday evening, Saturday and Sunday. Cost: $195 Level 1 Selectors Courses Scheduled for: Saturday. Cost: $35 Level 2 Selectors Course Scheduled for: Sunday. Cost: $45 Other Upcoming Courses Level 1 Coaching Course Scheduled for: Bathurst Cost: $95 Level 1 Referee Course Scheduled for: July 4 - Lower Blue Mountains July 12 - North Sydney July 25 - Bankstown August 29 - Campbelltown Level 2 Referees Course Scheduled for: July 12 - North Sydney July 25 - Bankstown For any information in relation to Technical Courses, please contact Chris Reynolds on 02 95589333 or via email at technical@nswtouch.com.au UPCOMING TOURNAMENTS Country Championships May 30/31 at Riverside Playing Fields, Dubbo. With some 77 teams competing this represents some 2100 players and officials plus 117 referees participating. Vawdon Cup This years Vawdon Cup is set to commence on July 17 at various venues around the metropolitan area. Recently our Operations Manager sent correspondence to affiliates seeking an aindication of what teams affililates were anticipating entering to aid in the planning process.