WEFL FUNCTIONS
1ST 2010 FUNCTION:
A TOUCH OF PARIS AT MONTROSE FC
Ladies of the Eastern Football league were welcomed out of a cold Montrose
evening into the warm glow of a beautifully themed and decorated, very shiny
and new Montrose Football Club at our first event for the year – ‘A Touch of
Paris’.
The evening commenced with a welcome from Graeme Donaldson of the
Montrose Football Club before tucking into crusty bread dipped into virgin
olive oil and flavoured salt from Campari House, a French-tapas-style
menu followed by dessert and coffee.
Empire Productions, graduating Event Management students from William
Angliss Institute, created and professionally management the evening’s
proceedings from the chic French décor, table settings, music and lighting to the
French Rose Mocktail and a large proportion of the sponsorship effort and of
course the mammoth cleaning up effort afterwards. Thank you very much team
and we look forward to working with you for our upcoming event on 14 July.
A great debt of thanks goes also to our special Guest Panel who provided the
group with entertainment and thoughtful answers in response to some very
challenging questions around Code of Conduct and Umpiring issues:
Holly Anderson – Women’s Liaison Officer, EFL for the past 4
years. Policewoman and involved in schools recruiting program.
Eliza Broadbent – EFL Senior Field Umpire, First EVER female umpire in the
EFL, Umpiring 3rd Division Senior Games currently.
Graham Halbish – Chairman of the EFL Board of Directors
Rob Sharpe – Chief Executive Officer of the EFL
We look forward to welcoming you Ladies of the EFL to our next event on 14
July, 2010 at a venue to be advised under the theme ‘FOOTBALL’. Everyone
will have the chance to dress in their favourite team colours and team
uniforms.
So grab the sons/hubby’s footy and practice your handballing because there will
be some BIG prizes up for grabs in what is shaping up to be a fun and
informative night.
To view pictures of the night click HERE
Thank you very much to our sponsors who made possible the raising of $497 in
aid of the Victorian Womens’ Football Team; received by coach Leann Gill:
 Montrose Football Club for making their superb new clubrooms available to
LOTE

Nivea for two huge skin care hampers

Glamour Ride Limousines

Elmswood Estate Winery

Shoppingtown Hotel

Tresors De France

Gazman

William Angliss Institute

The Ark Clothing Co.

National Sports Museum

Toby’s Estate Coffee

Allan’s Cakes and Bakery

Le Petit Gateau

Musashi

Anlene

Feingold Flowers

Baked in Good Faith

Thomson and Partners Advertising

Brumbys Langwarrin

Campari House

De Grandi Cycle and Sport

Sweet As

Miss Eyelash

Bella Spray Tans
LAST FUNCTION FOR 2009
The Mulgrave Football Club hosted the final Ladies of the East function for
2009 featuring presentations from the highly acclaimed football coach, Leann
Gill, who delighted the crowd with her enthusiasm and intimate football
knowledge. All-Australian Women’s Football Team member and Vice Captain
of Victoria, Jo Wotton then spoke about the progress women’s football has
made – there are currently over 78,000 women playing football in Australian
(ref: http://www.womenonboards.org.au/pubs/2009/0906football.htm). Jo was
accompanied by another five members of the East Burwood Devils Women’s
Football Team and attendees had opportunities speak to them about their
experiences as women footballers.
Kerry Freer was recently inaugurated onto the EFL Board and Chris Dowling,
Member of LOTE Steering Committee congratulated Kerry on her appointment
and wished her all the best on behalf of Ladies’ of the Eastern Football League.
The 80 women who attended also heard from the newest talent in sports
reporting at our principal sponsor, Channel 9, in Lisa Andrews who entertained
the crowd with stories from the field and her experiences growing up in a sportloving family and living and working as a sports reporter in the Northern
Territory.
A delicious buffet roast dinner with all the trimmings was followed by a panel
of speakers (Lisa Andrews, Kerry Freer, Jo Parker, Leeann Gill) facilitated by
Chris Dowling who gave a short history of LOTE and gave the women in the
audience the opportunity to ask questions and provide their feedback about
where they would like LOTE to go in the future via a LOTE Member
Survey. (Please see survey below to add your voice).
Thank you to all the women who completed our survey. Approximately 17
clubs were represented at last week’s function and we will collate the results
and let you know shortly and let you know via the EFL website about our plans
for next year.
Thanks also to the women who volunteered to support LOTE by getting
involved in organising events for 2009. Please drop Chris Dowling a note if
you’d like to help out on: go-dees@bigpond.com
Special thanks go to:
 Gail Hewitt, President of Mulgrave Football Club for hosting the event
 Anthony Stanguts, Media Manager, EFL did a fine job as MC
 Rob Sharpe, CEO EFL for his attendance
 Gary Overton's Catering
 Chris Dowling, Julie Duckworth and the Ladies of the East Steering
committee for their hard work in organising the fabuluous events this year and
their commitment to supporting women leaders and fostering leadership in
women in the Football.
YOU The women of Eastern Football League clubs who have come along to
events during the year and enjoyed each other’s company and supported the
work of the EFL through LOTE - Spread the word; LOTE events are a great
night out
EARLIER 2009 FUNCTION
Guest Speakers for the first function were female senior president of the
Heathmont Football Club JO HART-PARKER and female president of the
Western Region Football League DIANA TAYLOR. Taylor was elected as
president of the Western Region Football League in November 2007, and was the
first woman appointed as president of a senior men's metropolitan football league.
2008 FUNCTIONS
The LOTE held two functions last year, with their July function featuring two
guest speakers in retired Australian and Melbourne Phoenix netballer Eloise
Southby-Halbish, who is now involved with the Beyond Blue foundation, and
Kelly Breazeel, who is the Assistant Senior Coach at Nunawading (see a review
and photo's below). Their first function of the year featured the main guest speaker
being Karen Landgren from Knox Community Health ("Knox Accord") along
with former Wantirna South senior president Tony Gawne and EFL chairman
Graham Halbish.
If you would like more information about LOTE, contact them at wefl@efl.org.au
Or alternatively you may click here for a list of ladies that can be contacted
regarding any queries or issues that have arisen in your club.
LADIES OF THE EAST - 2008 Function 2
The final LOTE function for the year featured some great guest speakers, and
everyone enjoyed the hospitality of the Mitcham FC.
Our first speaker of the night was Nunawading assistant coach Kelly Breazeel.
Kelly talked about her experiences converting over from coaching basketball in
the USA and Australia, so relaying some of those skills and knowledge to the
footballing arena. The second guest speaker was former Melbourne Phoenix and
Australian netballer Eloise Southby-Halbish. Eloise had a number of stories
regarding the increased professionalism of netball at a state and national level,
as well as her experiences of growing up with an AFL/VFL football father,
Geoff Southby.
. Kelly Breazeel and Eloise Southby-Halbish
After the special guests spoke, EFL chairman Graham Halbish took questions
from the floor, and the ladies present ensured a few curly questions were thrown
his way. The committee would like to thank Graham for his time, as it is
appreciate the fact he makes himself available for the LOTE functions.
Finally a big thank you goes to Anthony Stanguts, our MC on the night, who
kept the evening moving along in a very informing and entertaining way and the
ladies have shown their appreciation by making him an honorary member of
LOTE.
. Graham Halbish and Anthony Stanguts