EASTS RUGBY FOUNDATION
Easts Rugby has been an integral part of the local community since 1900. Whilst in recent years we have enjoyed some renewed success both on and off the field, we are committed to ensuring that our growth continues. However, we are not just a Rugby Club. We provide an ideal environment for young people to transition to adulthood with a strong moral compass and sense of belonging. We also work harder than any other Club to grow Rugby Union outside our post code (eg. in 2020 we supported 8 regional NSW drought effected rugby clubs).
Running a district rugby club isn’t usually an economical exercise with hundreds of thousands of dollars required each year. These funds are traditionally sourced from sponsors, game day receipts, player registrations, government grants and most importantly, supporter donations, without which the club simply could not survive.
We set up The Easts Foundation a few years ago to channel tax-deductible funding to help support the club, and in turn, support the community. The good news is, the federal government has increased its support in local sport by relaxing the guidelines on what is now deemed eligible as deductible donations in supporting the running costs of the Club and developing pathways for all
players, men, women and juniors both on and off the field.
We’d like to again thank those Easts Rugby supporters who have donated to the Foundation in recent years. Over the last two years over $200,000 has been spent by the Foundation in supporting the rugby program with equipment, specialised coaching, team travel, touring and player welfare helping players make better education and career choices, all across the men’s, women’s and junior programs.
In 2021 we will need to generate more funding through the Foundation in support of Easts, as we strive to become the best community focussed district rugby club in Australia.
Whether it be supporting your brother or sister, son or daughter, a mate or you simply enjoy the camaraderie of a great day down at Woollahra Oval, we would like to encourage you to consider supporting The Easts Foundation to allow us to continue our support of the local Rugby and beyond.
We look forward to seeing you in 2021 – Go Beasties!
Meet The Board
Chairman: Craig Smith
Craig, father to five, of which four have played at Easts (one of whom still plays at Easts)! In recent times Craig has spent two years running the Scots College Rugby Support Group Program. More broadly Craig has spent 28 years in the travel industry he Chairs a Peer Advisory Group of SME Business Leaders.
e. craigsmith@eastsrugby.com.au
m. 0414 913044.
Director: Mat Collett
Mathew has a unique blend of experience spanning 30 years across banking, management, business development, corporate advisory, FMCG, sales & marketing. He has held senior positions such as Director at JBWere, Managing Director of
Tullett Prebon Futures and is currently Co-Founder and CEO of Solar D Sunscreen, a new patented Vitamin D Promoting SPF Technology. In his many diverse roles, he has helped build, raise capital and create strategy for a number of successful
businesses and has a proven track record in business development, building brands, management, leadership and driving brand awareness. Mathew has recently been appointed President of The Scots Old Boys Union and is also President of the
Scots Rugby Committee and has always been very active in donating his time to Easts Junior Rugby.
m. 0414 605652
Director: Lyndsey Douglas
Lyndsey is a director of a national agricultural body, and the head of innovation and publicity for Ray White's Australia/New Zealand rural division. She has played rugby since high school, through university and in country and city clubs. She was the
Vice President of her previous club, a division one suburban rugby club with five men's grades and women's team. Outside rugby season, she's the voice at agricultural shows along the east coast.
m. 0424 203935
Director: Karin Christie
Karin has played rugby since 2006, and although she is now semi-retired from playing she is heavily involved in managing the Easts Women’s rugby team. Karin was a board member for The Rugby Club from 2011 to 2016, while it operated as a licenced club on Rugby Place (formerly Crane lace). The Rugby Club ceased trading in 2017, and at that time transitioned to The Rugby
Club Foundation. Karin is a Tax Manager for Charter Hall, where she has worked since 2008.
e. Karin.christie@eastsrugby.com.au
m. 0417 154242
Director: Emily Brial
Emily has grown up in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs and has been involved with Easts Rugby Club most of her adult life. Her husband played 100 first grade games for the Club, and her three sons each started playing rugby at Easts from 7 years old,
one of whom still plays for Bays. Emily is currently on The Scots College Rugby Support Committee and The Scot College Boarders Association. She is a Trustee of a private charitable Foundation, and for 20 years has been a Director of a large concrete and quarrying products business, and a Director of a road construction equipment hire business. Emily has a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Mass Communications.
e. emily@rollersaustralia.com.au
m. 0416 030405
Director: Hamish McCathie
Hamish has been in the Financial Markets for 30 years and is currently CEO of Sequoia Wealth Management. Sequoia Wealth Management is fully owned by the ASX listed company Sequoia Financial Group (SEQ.ASX). He has been involved at Easts Rugby Club since 1975 when he first played for The Bays, Hamish then played over 150 club games for Easts in the late 80’s and 90’s, being awarded the Matt Street award in 1991 and played in all senior grade teams. Hamish came back to Easts as President of the Wallaroos, coach of the 1st Colts and was Clubman of the Year in 2010. He was on the Easts Board from 2011 to 2016 as a Director and later in his tenure as Director of Rugby.
e. hamishmccathie@sequoia.com.au
m. 0410575474
Director: Campbell Aitken
m. 0488 200739
Director: Stuart Hudson
Stuart Hudson is currently a Partner and Senior Financial Adviser with CCZ Statton Equities. Prior to that Stuart was an adviser at Switzer Financial Group and before that Director of Treasury at Societe Generale Australia Limited for 17 years. Stuart is a qualified financial adviser with a Master of Commerce (Financial Planning) from Western Sydney University. Stuart also holds a Diploma of Financial Services and is an accredited Self- Managed Superannuation Fund specialist from Kaplan.
Director: John Murray
John is the current President of Easts Rugby Club, having been appointed to the board at the 2011 AGM. John’s children have played down at Easts over the last ten years hence John has been active with the Bays Junior Club. Being a non-ex Easts player John brings a refreshing approach and ideas to the board. John was elected President at the 2014 AGM after serving as Vice President of House since 2011.
e. john@eastsrugby.com.au
m. 0417 259 128
Company Secretary: Sean Rahilly
Sean has background in corporate governance with over 20 years’ experience in investment banking. The last 15 years he has worked with the French bank Societe Generale, where he was the Head of Compliance for the Investment bank in the Asia
Pacific region. He is a Chartered Accountant, and a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
e. sean@eastsrugby.com.au
m. 0414 302 520
Eastern Suburbs Rugby Union Foundation Limited ACN 139 378 966
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The Foundation was formed in 2010, to build a financial base on which the Eastern Suburbs District Rugby Union Football Club, could protect itself in the future from the many challenges which a combination of an amateur ethic and a professional playing structure could impose on it.
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The Foundation is structured with a separate governing Board and a Trust Deed, which directs the Board to apply funds in accordance with the Deed’s terms
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The Fund is also required to provide six monthly reports to the Australian Sports Foundation (ASF) which monitors the Fund to ensure its expenditure complies with qualifying expenditure as agreed with the provisions of the ASF.