Vietnam Swans

The Saigon Shooters at the Big Day Out

Former Secretary of the Swannies in Saigon and fiance of Saigon Prez, Derrin, Fleur Gamble – Club Coordinator of the Saigon Shooters Netball Club – sent out the email below to the clan.

Hi Ladies,

This week we have our last training before a week long break for TET. Beginning at 7:00pm we will warm up and run some ’set play’ training to hone our skills when taking throw ins, penalties and centre passes.

In news this week…

SAIGON SHOOTERS ELECTS A COMMITTEE!!

We were very lucky to have a modest turn out for the AGM last week and EXTREMELY fortunate to have a group of go-getting women who are keen to be an active part of the running of the club. The following roles have been allocated for the Season of 2010.

• Club Coordinator – Fleur Gamble
• Club Spokesperson – Carrie Farley – Roche
• Treasurer – Paula Ellis
• Secretary – Alison Jones
• Tours and Social – Andrea Watson and Lizzie Pollard
• Communications and Web – Helen Bartlett
• Kit andEquipement Manager – Cathy

Coaching Committee: Fleur Gamble, Emma  Tyler, Keryn Dowling, Sarah Dunstan

Thanks again ladies for coming to the meeting. With all these helping hands, it should be a great season for us all.

Next time, the Saigon Shooters will take on the Hanoi Oi's in a blockbuster to be played in Saigon

UPCOMING GAMES AGAINST THE HANOI OI’S!!!

Ladies, we have confirmed our first competition for this year! The Hanoi Oi’s will be visiting us (in Saigon) on Saturday, 20 March for some games of netty and swimming and a bit of a party. We would love to have as many girls as we can turn up on the day to play or spectate. Please let me know if you are interested in playing – and remember it’s all about having a good time on court with the girls from the club, so don’t feel like you have to be the best to have a go. It would be ace to make 2 teams so that the Oi’s and us can have a good lot of netball to play on the day!

TET BREAK

We will NOT train on Wednesday, 17 February because of the TET Break. Training will resume on Wednesday, 24 February.

See you all tomorrow night for one more run before the break!

For further information about the Saigon Shooters Netball Club, please contact Club Coordinator, Fleur Gamble.

Black Saturday, one year on, is remembered yesterday at the Saigon Sixes in Saigon

Some of the Swannies, together with many in the crowd, wore yellow ribbons at yesterday’s Saigon Sixes Cricket tournament to remember the victims of Black Saturday on the first anniversary. Micky J in Hoi An also came out with a yellow ribbon and Tommy Sherrin.

Saigon President, Derrin Limbrick speaking at last year's Bushfire & Tribute match

On 7 February 2009, the Black Saturday Bushfires ripped through Victoria. It was Australia’s worst natural disaster.

Twelve months on, Saigon President Derrin Limbrick reflects and asks us to remember.

Gents

Just a quick e-mail to remind everyone to take some time to remember today’s anniversary of the tragic Black Saturday Bushfires – Australia’s worst ever natural disaster. In March of last year, thanks to the collaboration of the Bali Geckos and the Vietnam Swans, we were able to host a fundraiser and tribute match in Saigon (see From Vietnam, Asian Footy supports bushfire victims). The idea was quite simply to show our support and, hopefully, raise some funds to assist the Yarra Valley Mountain District Football Netball League (YVMDFNL) get back on their feet. Thanks to the generous support of the public and sponsors we were able to raise some money and, in our own small way, show them our support from afar.

A year has passed. However the rebuilding for some of those in the worst affected areas is only just beginning. Especially in the worst affected areas of Marysville and Kinglake. Yesterday, Marysville and Kinglake played a cricket match to mark the anniversary of Black Saturday. The competitiveness of both teams was evident by the way the captains addressed their teams before the match. Both captains made it quite clear that coming off the field without a win was not an option. Unfortunately, someone has to win and lose and this time around the Marysville team came away with the win. After the game the boys all got together and enjoyed a cold beer together.

Swannies' Greg Armstrong meets YVMDFL CEO, Stephen Walter and hands over a Vietnam Swans and a Bali Geckos jumper

Since our match and fundraiser with Bali last year, Fabbo has kept in touch with Stephen Walter, the CEO of the YVMDFNL. Towards the end of last year, Greg Armstrong (a semi retired Swannie now in Melbourne) went to watch Marysville play a match and in his words, “was humbled and amazed” at how he was treated and the hospitality he received (see Greg Armstrong meets YVMDFNL). The YVMDFNL also recently forwarded a Certificate of Appreciation to the Vietnam Swans (see attached) and, there is also hope that Stephen can come here over sometime this year to see what Asian Footy is all about. Let’s hope he can get here.

The certificate given to the Vietnam Swans from the YVMDFNL: The YVMDFNL congratulates the Vietnam Swans for your generous support of Bushfire affected Clubs in the YVMDFL

This is a good reminder of the effect that a “bunch of footy players” in Vietnam can have and, in our own small way, show our support to others in need. Let’s remember those who lost their lives and those who suffered so much this time last year. Let’s also remember that small, simple acts can be significant.

In light of that, I encourage each of you to wear a yellow ribbon today. The Yellow Ribbon Campaign was launched last year by the Victorian Government and the Herald Sun newspaper to acknowledge the human cost of the fires. This is what the Swannies are all about.

We wish the YVMDFNL all the best for the upcoming Year of the Tiger.

Chuc Mung Nam Moi (Happy New Lunar Year)!

Cheers, Derrin Limbrick, Saigon President

Fleur, Angry and Dez wear yellow ribbons at the Saigon Sixes Cricket Tournament.

Footnote:

Today, the Miller Cricket Sixes was played in Saigon and many in the crowd were wearing yellow ribbons including a number of Swannies.

Tomorrow, Stanno will take the Hanoi boys on their first skills session for 2010

Coach of the Swannies in Hanoi, Stanno, announces the season’s first day training session on the UN International School’s oval for 2010. (Click here for Google Map.)

Gentlemen and Willy, remember our first ‘run around’, with the footies, is on tomorrow. 12.45pm at UNIS. Get your clacker along and make this 1st session a good one!

Thanks ( I think?) Dan K for putting a few of us through a battery of army fitness tests last night at the Australian Embassy. Good baseline data to measure our improvement (there’s plenty of room for it!) over the coming months.

Go you Swannies!

And what a Thursday night training session Dan Kindness was putting on! Below is the email that Dan sent out prior to last night’s gym session:

Dan is determined that the Swannies will not lose shape in 2010

G’day boys. Sorry for the late email, but I havent been at my desk much so far this week.  I have had some pretty good feedback about the fitness sessions (at the Australian Embassy. Click here for Google Map), and we are going to move it from Wednesday to Thursday so that we can use the tennis court.  Hope that doesn’t upset your schedule, but we found that the use of a flat surface to be pretty important.

If we still have enough numbers within a few weeks, we will look at doing another combined session with the Hanoi Oi’s Netball Club as I think the friendly match (last week) went well, particularly as we displayed some pretty good talent with Jamie, Ryan and Dan Lucardie.

Big question – is everyone happy with a 6.30 start?  Personally, I’d prefer to start earlier at around 5.30 so that we can finish earlier and get home earlier, but I understand issues with work timings and traffic etc.

The training session this week is going to be a baseline fitness assessment.  It’s not meant to be serious, but it will give us an indication where we are at individually, and we can compare the results to where we are at in coming weeks/months.  The assessment is pretty simple and will comprise four individual tests, where we attempt to reach our maximum in:

• Chin Ups
• Sit Ups
• Push Ups
• Beep Test.

Sounds like fun!

If you would like more information about training sessions in Hanoi on:

• Saturday afternoons with the footies at UNIS, contact Stanno.
• Thursday evenings in the gym at the Australian Embassy, contact Dan.

Ex Swannie, Matty Johns, famous for his good looks, natural blonde hair and brown eyes is also famous within insurance circles Down Under

Former Swannies superstar, Matty Johns who had seemingly disappeared off the face of the planet when he returned to Adelaide from Vietnam has been discovered by Muzza in an insurance magazine. Muzza writes below:

Many of you will ask:

• What happened to ‘One More Matt Johns’?
• Gee, I wonder how Matt Johns is settling back into life in Adelaide
• Matt Johns – it’s so funny how we don’t talk anymore.

Anyway the answer to all of this is obvious – Matt has been busy becoming a “Young Professional”.

A hard hitting Insurance Mag has picked up the adventures of Matt and published a fantastic article – complete with a photo of the young professional that will more than likely propel Matt into the new profession of male modeling (Target catalogues etc) for the young professional.

So please make sure that you are in touch with Matt – maybe today or tomorrow just to let him know that you are pleased to see him doing so well as a young professional.

Also – Phil (Johns), I would expect that this would bring a sizeable fine to the past Vietnam Swans player.

Matt – we look forward to many more publications – maybe a cover on the New Idea that would include the family.

All the best, Muzza

Matt Johns then replied:

Muzza, thanks for that and solving the mystery. With a nationwide circulation of only 4, surprisingly, the Insurance & Risk Professional magazine won’t appear in any media monitoring lists of the ‘most read’ magazines in Australia, or South Australia, or Adelaide, or even the office where I work.

Noting this, given I have a copy, Rebecca sufferingly took one and I passed one onto my mum, I was wondering where the other one had got to. It appears it must have made its way to a newsagency in Carlton, nestled amongst the varied publications on “Vietnamese Gas Cookers 2008″ (by various contributors), “Bright boots and tight tops” (Franklin & Grigg), and “3 easy steps to monster calfs” (Murrell).

As part of South Australia’s ongoing commitment to hosting major events, a launch, signing and cocktail function will be taking place. I will ensure all of your names are on the door.

Clearly, to be an active member of the Vietnam Swannies, you need a very good football brain but not necessarily a high IQ.

To see the full article about Matt, click on Matt, the Young Professional.

Saigon last night elected its 2010 Committee

Last night in Saigon, the Saigon Committee for 2010 was elected:

Congratulations are in order for Derrin Limbrick who, last night, was unanimously re-elected as Saigon President of the Vietnam Swans.

Derrin’s re-election was no surprise given the sterling job that he (and his committee) did in 2009. The only problem with Derrin this year is that he plans on marrying Fleur the week prior to the Asian Champs. Despite our generous invitation for the happy couple to honeymoon with us in Shanghai for a weekend of non-stop footy action, he has respectfully declined. Bastard.

Serving alongside Derrin on the Saigon committee will be:

• Danny Armstrong – Treasurer
• Sam Conroy – Secretary
• Matt Townsend -Social Events Co-ordinator
• Dave Hadley – Communications Manager
• Damo Judd – Memberships

This year coaching will be shared by a “coaching committee” comprising Captain Monkey, JD, Heath, Gus, Dukes and Derrin.

With three new faces on the down sized committee, a plethora of many and varied new initiatives are expected!

Special thanks to Damo, Gus, Nick, Shagger, Big Joe and Larry who served on the Committee last year for your contributions. All of them did a sterling job and will continue to do so this year supporting the Committee.

Positions on the 2010 National Committee will be formalised in the next week.

The Swannies at BDO, Saigon

Last weekend, the Vietnam Swans were part of Auscham’s Big Day Out in Saigon, together with the Saigon Shooters Netball Team. Saigon President, Derrin Limbrick sent the following email out to the troops:

For more photos of the Swannies at Big Day Out, courtesy of Josh Little, click here.

Nikko receives yet another handball

Gents, a big thanks to all of those who helped out at the Vietnam Swans Tent at the AusCham Big Day Out on Saturday.  I think that it was a big success and I am sure that everyone enjoyed themselves.  After a slow start to the day we soon had the ball rolling and were able to run several AusKick clinics throughout the day including one for the Loretto children which was great to see.  The Jim Beam handball board was also very popular and also might have unearthed some hidden talent.

The Phoenix Cup Perpetual Trophy donated by the Royal Australian Navy to the Swannies

Also, well done to Danny Armstrong who did a great job as the MC for the event – an often thankless task, right Danny?  Danny managed to juggle his commitments while at the same time rotating his wardrobe from Swannies jumper to a CBA T-Shirt and back as required.  Nice one mate.

We will also be waiting with baited breath for the segment that was filmed by Dave Hadley’s friends at HTV for their show Smiling Vietnam.  This time we had several current and new players involved and it looked like it should be a contender for a prime time spot this time around.  They even let Gus get in on it.

Stay tuned to the Swannies website for a full report and photos from the event and also the Smiling Vietnam segment.

Great way to start of the year boys.  Keep up the good work!

For more photos of the Swannies at Big Day Out, courtesy of Josh Little, click here.

Saigon Prez, Derrin Limbrick says that, in Saigon, it's time to elect a new Committee and to get back on the training track.

Saigon President, Derrin Limbrick advises the troops that it’s now time to elect the Saigon Committee for 2010 – and announces when training will resume.

SAIGON COMMITTEE, 2010

The time has come for the Club to put together our Committee for 2010.   We will be arranging a meeting to elect the new Committee on Wednesday 3rd February, 6 30 pm at Oasis Bar (behind the bus station across from Ben Thanh Market. Click here for Google Map).  If you need more information just let me know.

In 2010 the following positions will be open for nominations:

• Saigon President
• Saigon Treasurer
• Communications manager
• Social Coordinator
• Membership coordinator

Plus we are also planning on introducing a new concept that involves a coaching committee instead of a single coach.  The idea being that a group of players will be responsible for organizing training drills and will also liaise with the Saigon President and Hanoi Coach for match day teams and tactics.

If you are interested in attending the meeting please confirm your attendance by return e-mail.  If you are not able to attend but still wish to nominate either yourself or anyone else for any of the above positions, then please let me know and we will make sure that you are included during voting.

We will also have many other opportunities for people to be involved in the Club throughout the year, so, if the committee is not your thing but you are still interested in assisting at other times throughout the year, just let me know and I will keep you updated.

Looking forward to hearing from you soon.

TRAINING BEGINS, 2010

It is the time of year that I know you have all been waiting for!  Training will commence on Saturday 27th February at RMIT, District 7 (click here for Google Map), at 2 30 pm sharp.  For those not in the know, we normally charge VND 50,000 per training session but, for any new comers, the first training is always free.  The Club will supply water and we normally go for a cleansing ale afterwards at the Tavern in Phu My Hung.

I am sure that everyone has been maintaining some level of fitness over the off season so a good run shouldn’t hurt any of us, right??

We will have a new approach to training this year that I am sure everyone will find fun and rewarding.  I hope to see all the old faces and lots of new ones on the 27th!

Ya hearin’ me!

Footnotes:

• The Vietnam Swans National Committee will be elected by the Saigon and Hanoi Committees.
• Hanoi has already held its election. Willy is the new Prez, Stanno is Coach, Trav is Treasurer and Dan Kindness is the floater.
• In Hanoi, training has already commenced. Gym training at the Embassy is held Wednesday nights and training on the UNIS oval will commence on 6 February. See Hanoi’s training regime starts smokin’ for full details.
  

AusCham's Big Day Out, which includes the Vietnam Swannies, will rock Saigon. Tomorrow!

Tomorrow, the Vietnam Swans will be running an Auskick Clinic and the Jim Beam handball board at Auscham’s Big Day out Event in Saigon. The Swannies will be on from 3pm – 6pm.

For all the other key pieces of information, please see Auscham’s update below.

Dear Members and Friends,

Click on the e-flyer above to visit our special website and see you at the BIG DAY OUT 2010!

Gym sessions start for the Swannies in Hanoi tomorrow night

The Swannies in Hanoi are on the move! From tomorrow night they’re at the gym – and Dan Kindness has just sent out the email below to rally the troops! Below that, Coach Stanno announces dates for training on the UNIS ovals.

Boys, just a quick reminder…

Wednesday Night Fitness Training starts tomorrow at 6.30pm.  To start off, we will keep the session relatively light with the aim being to gradually increase the pain over coming weeks until it becomes a complete and utter smash session!

But here’s what we are going to do tomorrow:

• 1830: Start
• 1830 – 1845: Warm up with Hanoi Oi’s netball team
• 1845 – 1900: Sprints (no faster than 75% of maximum speed)
• 1900 – 1930: Light circuit training (light weights, high reps, high intensity targeting upper body, legs and maybe abs)
• 1930 – 2000: Friendly match against Hanoi Oi’s (hopefully the girls will be gentle).

2000: Pizza and beer or beer and pizza.

To register, please email vietnamswans@gmail.com now.

Meanwhile, Coach Stanno has announced the times and dates of the first on-field training sessions for the Swans in Hanoi. They will be held at UNIS, Ciputra from 12.45pm – 2pm on the following Saturdays:

• 6 & 27 February
• 6, 13, 20 & 27 March
• 3 April

Footy’s alive and well in Hanoi in 2010!

From Test Cricket, to One Day-ers and now, Twenty20. Shorter seems to be more popular.

Peter Parry has written to World Footy News arguing that a “half sized” version of Aussie Rules could significantly broaden its appeal. For those of us playing footy in Asia where we struggle to field touring teams of 18 players plus bench, and find decent sized ovals, a lot of what he says resonates.

Part of Peter’s article, Opinion: Half sized versions of Australian football have much to offer is reproduced below:

“…In an increasingly time and space poor world, most team games have their smaller or shortened versions which encourage wider participation and are used to promote those sports in new markets. In comparison Australian Football, the big game on a big field, has been slow to embrace smaller formats.

“Other sports do the small version big time

“T20 in cricket now looks set to revolutionise the old game, going further in attracting new participants and fans than 1 day cricket a generation ago. Cricket also has a widely played indoor version (primarily recreationally) and has used 8-a-side on small ovals in South-East Asia. Rugby 7’s has taken a simpler version of the 15-a-side game of complex rules to dozens of countries beyond its traditional domain. Soccer has several smaller versions – outdoor 5-a-side, indoor 5-a-side, beach soccer…with world cups playable in some of these formats. Basketball a 3 on 3 version, Rugby League has the very popular “touch footy” format as well as a 9’s version sometimes used in international development, Gaelic football has an increasingly popular annual 7’s tournament, American Football has a non-contact “flag football” version, and the list could go on…

“Australian Football is the biggest sport in size terms

“In terms of size Australian Football is a big game: 36 big men fly high and roam far and wide on the world’s largest football field. The game is appreciated best from the stands, even widescreen TV fails to capture the full scale of play. Whilst the full size version due to its spectacle will always be the elite form of the game, half-size versions like “9-a-side” and “RecFooty” are increasingly making their mark. Perhaps the most important aspects of half-size versions are: the relative ease to form a team, the fitting onto smaller grounds and the double ball time for play time that participants get in a high aerobic format. These factors increase the potential to gain and maintain high participation rates…”

To read the rest of the article on World Footy News, click here.

Willy - Pleased to be recognised.

Hanoi’s President, Mr Willy, has written into the Swannies’ Blog to proclaim:

“Finally people are starting to give me the recognition I deserved soooo damn long ago…”

Hearin’ ya, Willy.