Vietnam Swans

National Prez, Phil Johns details a very busy week for the Swannies. See the full details below.

Dear Swannies, Sponsors and Supporters

• Yesterday: Malaysian Warriors Vs Vietnam Swans, Kuala Lumpur
• Last Thursday night – Battle of the Codes Sporting Trivia night in Hanoi for Swim Vietnam
• Last Wednesday night in Saigon – World Premiere of the 2010 ANZAC Friendship Match Video.
• Last Weekend – Farewell to three greats in Hanoi
• The previous week; farewell to Dave Hadley
• Montgomerie Links comes to HCMC
• And finally…

Yesterday: Malaysian Warriors Vs Vietnam Swans, Kuala Lumpur

We travelled to KL from Hanoi, Saigon and Vung Tau to play the Malaysian Warriors for the Linfox Cup. Alas, with a weakened touring team of 17 players (and it’s now school holidays), the Swannies run of seven consecutive wins on the trot came to an end yesterday. While we held a slender lead at the main break, it wasn’t enough to withstand the Warriors’ strong charge in the second half.

The Warriors finished the day with 12. 7. 79 to the Swannies 3. 8. 26.

The Warriors picked Nick Shiells as our best. Dezza who spent most of the match on Hawthorn Premiership player, Trent Croad, wouldn’t have been far behind.

Thanks to the Warriors for being great hosts on and off the field.

Well done to the Swannies for a spirited defense of the Linfox Cup.

Last Thursday night – Battle of the Codes Sporting Trivia night in Hanoi for Swim Vietnam

Last Thursday night in Hanoi, the Vietnam Swans and JASPAS organised a Battle of the Codes Sports Trivia night , together with the Viet Celts Gaelic Football Club and the Hanoi Dragons Rugby Club. All the proceeds were to go to Swim Vietnam.

No less than a staggering VND50million (USD2400) was raised! As Chief Organiser and Hanoi Coach, Adrian Enright said, “that’s a lot of swim training”. Eighty people attended the night. Even the Australian and British Embassies took tables.

But who won on the night? The Poms!!

Last Wednesday night in Saigon – World Premiere of the 2010 ANZAC Friendship Match Video.

Last Wednesday night at the Australian Consulate General’s Residence in Saigon, the Sponsors and Board of Auscham (Australian Chamber of Commerce) met up with the Sponsors and Committee of the Vietnam Swans for the World Premiere of a Dog Eat Dog Production of the 2010 ANZAC Friendship Match in Vung Tau. The highlights package of eight minutes was put together by Austrade Commissioner, Tony Burchill. It was a sensitive look at the 2010 ANZAC Friendship Match that was also laced with generous doses of humour.

Austrade, Auscham, the Australian Consulate and the Vietnam Swans have all worked together before but, significantly, this was the first time that each organisation was formally brought together for such a function.

As the President of Auscham, Wayne Bannon commented, “The Chamber and the Swans are two institutions which underpin the Australian community in Vietnam and it is to everyone’s benefit that they continue working closely together”. Tony Burchill remarked that the other night was a “highlight in terms of this relationship”. The Consulate General expressed similar sentiments. (When it was my turn to speak on the roof top garden, on cue, there was a clap of thunder, a bolt of lightening and then gale force winds as another Saigon storm rolled in. Quick thinking Tony ushered everyone inside as the storm intensified – but not before grabbing the mike from me.)

This night will be repeated in Hanoi on 7 July with Austrade, Auscham and the Vietnam Swans..

Last Weekend – Farewell to three greats in Hanoi: Willy, Stanno and Jamie

A week ago in Hanoi, the Club farewelled outgoing Hanoi President, Willy; outgoing Coach Stanno and gun forward, Jamie. Given the significance of the occasion, the National Committee bought an air ticket (the first ever paid by the Club) so that I could attend in my role as National President.

Willy was there for our first ever match back in 2003. As we have said previously, nobody has a bigger heart for the Club than Willy and we thank him for all his hard work over many years on and off the field. Over the past three years, Willy has been running the highly successful Auskick program at the Hanoi International School and has trained up some future footy stars from all sorts of exotic countries. We sincerely thank Willy and wish him the very best back in Melbourne where our Swannies alumni just continues to expand.

Stanno has been a great coach in Hanoi and freely acknowledged that when he plays for the Swannies, the chances of victory escalate considerably. Proving his point, he claims that he played eight matches for the Swannies – of which we won 7. Perhaps Stanno’s absence in KL yesterday was the difference? Stanno was a professional and he will be missed very much. However, given that he is moving to Cambodia, there’s every chance that we will see him again in a Cambodian Eagles top – or back in Vietnam for swimming carnivals etc with his students.

Jamie was finishing High School – so we didn’t get to see as much of him on the international circuit. But he did play great games in the forward line at the Indochina Cup and in the tribute match to Craig Senger. I’ll give you the tip, he looked very, very good in a Swannies jumper!

The previous week – Farewell to Dave Hadley

The previous week we farewelled Dave Winston Hadley who was headed for a country with a climate that’s very similar to Vietnam’s – Norway! Not only was Dave a great player, he also had great passion for community work. Not only did he have the passion, he made it happen often on behalf of the Swannies – whether that was with Loreto, KOTO, visiting orphanages, organising delivery of used computers to disadvantaged children etc.

Dave, good luck in setting up the Swannies latest chapter in Norway… and with everything else.

Montgomerie Links comes to HCMC, 1 July

Articles are still appearing in golf magazines about the recent Swing to Swim Charity Golf Day which was held at Montgomerie Links in Danang.

For those of you who are interested in golf, on Friday 1 July, Montgomerie Links will officially hold the “Montgomerie Links comes to HCMC” tournament at Song Be Golf Resort.

For further details, contact Ms Thu at [email protected] or 0905 515 554.

And finally…

If you’re not honkin’ this week, you’re probably having a well deserved snorin’ session.