It’s grand final time again and once again this is the closest I will get to the game …
It’s the final siren for SPRUKE 2017. Sure, we missed a few tackles, and let through some behinds … but we played for the love of the game.
Resounding applause to all the ukulele performers and presenters – wonderful to see you shine and inspire. A special mention to the rising stars – Sid, Nic and Christian Ravoi who went on with the show. Thanks boys, you are champions! It was great to see many members of Just Flukey, Free Range chUKES and The Royal Mail Ukulele Group make their festival debut.
Thank you to our international guests for your patience, perseverance and perfect performances. You certainly hit the mark. And thanks to Ross, Helena, Terry, Miyuki, Max and Karen and other billet hosts for opening their homes and hearts to visiting players.
Thank you SPRUKE Crew for the many goals scored. In particular …
Thank you Max Borchardt for your bravery and passion on the festival field, taking on the SPRUKE captaincy.
Off-the-bench, emergency reserve Karen Borchardt amazed us, pulling on the Box Office boots at a moment’s notice – definitely 2017 Best on Ground.
Blair, retains his mantle as Best Clubman, coaching a brilliant team of AV rookies.
Thank you to the fabulous SPRUKE Crew for putting in a full four quarters.
Other special mentions:
Full Forward – Chrissy Heinrich – for orchestrating a most entertaining match.
Centre Half Forward – Tony Richardson for brilliantly guiding play at various stages
Forward Flanks – Sharon on merchandise and Clare on prizes for outstanding team work
Ruck – Jo – leaping to extraordinary heights with publicity and as NUMB BUMS band leader
Rovers – Rob Carlyle & Adrian Board put in personal bests and led the mark, hand pass, and goal tallies by end of game
Ruck Rovers – Steve Sandilands and John Henderson – for achieving brilliant center clearances by tackling everything head-on
Wings – John Foster – deploying signage at lighting speed
Back Flanks – Peter Grace – taking care of training issues; Matthew and Nathan Heinrich for strong work in defence
Center Half Back – David – having Max’s back as Deputy Director, and driving the ball forward as stage manager, and City Sounds organiser
Back Pockets – Peter Ransom (grant application writer) and Col – Festival Treasurer – trying to get us ahead of the game
Full Back – BUMS President, Ian –covering our proverbials with BUMS funding, amongst many, many other things …
Umpires – Marg Monaghan and Lisa Kenright for conscientiously monitoring our health and safety throughout the weekend
Linesmen – Mick, Michael and Dave for brilliant stills and flicks
And our endless list of interchange players who turned up all weekend, and did everything they were asked and more, right from the centre bounce to the full time siren.
Our major sponsors – Morris Brothers, Kala, Lanikai, Cordoba, Makai, Maton, Binary Music, Ukuleledownunder — we salute you! You are the names of the game!
Thank you to the Newcastle and Lower Hunter Valley ukulele players for bringing so many groups to perform, and to Mark and Jane who taught the full festival auditorium to perform a song in the blink of eye for our GRAND FINALe.
Another Brisbane SPRUKE festival done and dusted … home ground advantage now passes to Newcastle. Looking forward to Newkulele in 2018!
Watch this space for the dates of our sister festival.