More than 100 Test caps were on show at Shelly Beach, Cronulla when the newly formed Committee, Southern Sydney, held its first function at 7.30am on Sunday morning, 31 January 2010. There was around 80 in attendance, including internationals Gavin Miller, Chris Anderson, Gary Stevens, Les Davidson, Cliff Watson, Dane Sorenson, Ted Goodwin, Billy Smith, Bill Noonan, John Peard, David Waite and Steve Kneen. Fitness man, Les Motto, took 51 of the group on a half hour walk, while others prepared the sausage barbecue.
At the first meeting on 7 December, the Executive for the new branch was elected. These men are Patron John Peard, President Terry Hughes, Vice Presidents Denis Stapleton and Peter Black, Secretary Grahame Bowen, Treasurer Brian Cox, and Welfare Officers John Peard and Ron Pearce. The Executive were elated with the attendance at Shelly Beach, as the weather wasn't good and the local paper had printed the wrong date.
President Terry Hughes lives out atMount Annan, but having played well over 50 First Grade games for Cronulla between 1967 and 1970, he still has plenty of friends in the area. Terry will be remembered as the inaugural winner of the Rothmans Medal in 1968, when he beat John Raper by one point.
Well known journalist Gary Lester, who was a more than competent halfback in his junior days and was a member of the first ever Cronulla Presidents Cup team in 1964, was also present. While there were five of the Raper family, Mick, Aaron, Stuart, Gerard and Maurie, at the gathering, there should have been six, as Stuart forgot to pick up his father John. Four times winning Grand Final captain and a member of the first NSW State of Origin team in 1980, Steve Edge, enjoyed the function, as did other former first graders such as Mal McMartin, Mick Mullane, Barry Andrews, Barry 'Bunny' Reilly, John Maguire, Les 'Tinker' Bell, John Bailey and Craig Wilson.
There are more events planned for the future and members will be notified of these in the magazine. For any more information, contact Terry Hughes on 0447 488 052 or Grahame Bowen on 0400 355 500.