Vale - Karen Cartwright
Killarney Vale AFC is mourning the passing of long time member Karen Cartwright.
Karen has been an amazing supporter of the Bombers and wife of Michael, our long time Senior Men Team Manager and mother of 2022 Premiership Player Daniel and former Bombers Josh and Rhys.
Gentle, kind and always smiling, Karen was loved by all and she will be sadly missed.
Karens Funeral will be held on Friday, 9 February at Palmdale Lawn Cemetary and Memorial Park, Palmdale Rd, Palmdale commencing at 2:30pm.
RIP Karen
Life Member Inductee - Michael Smith
Killarney Australian Football Club is pleased to announce Life Member Inductee # 38 is Michael Smith.
Michael's Life Membership was confirmed at the club's Annual General Meeting held on 9 December 2023.
"Smithy" has served the club magnificently both on and off the field since he joined the club in 2006.
After a distinguished junior career with Bateau Bay which included numerous representative honours, Michael began his senior career with the Bombers in 2006 and made an immediate impact winning the "Rookie of Year" award in his first season.
He would go on and play 170 senior senior games for the club including 126 first grade games as well as being a member of the 2007 Premiership team, which he still claims to be one of his footballing highlights.
Unfortunately injuries cut short his senior career but his on-field performances were such that he was named in the KVAFC Team of their first 40 Years.
Whilst his playing days may have been over, this did not stop Michael from playing an active role in the club as the following shows:
2010 - U18's Coach
2016-17 - 1st Grade Assistant Coach
2021-23 - Black Diamond Cup Women's Coach
2016-17 - Committee Member
2015-23 - Senior Football Operations Manager
Michael was also acknowledged at a league level with the following accolades:
2016-17 - Black Diamond AFL Player
2016-18 - Black Diamond AFL Representative Official
2021 - AFL Hunter Central Coast Assistant Coach
2023 - AFL Hunter Central Coast Clubperson of the Year (James J Arnold Award)
Whilst the above is a very distinguished list of milestones and awards, probably Michael's greatest achievement is not recognised by these but rather through the respect he receives, not just by his peers at Killarney Vale but throughout the whole AFL Hunter Central Coast footprint. To get universal respect is not given rather earned and Michael you have certainly earned yours.
Congratulations Michael Smith, Killarney Vale AFC Life Member # 38.
Junior Coaches Announced
Killarney Vale AFC is pleased to announce the following junior coaching positions for the 2024 season.
U17's Youth Girls - Peter Harvey
U15's Boys - John Pidgeon
U15's Youth Girls - Richard Noone and Jason Fretwell
U13's Boys - Corey Shackleton, Tim Pettit and Justin Daley
U13's Youth Girls - Shannon Kelderman and Ben Trampnau
U11's Boys - Chad Bush
U11 Youth Girls - Luke Kelly
U9's - Claire Kelderman
President Paul Forster is pleased with the appointments.
"The club is pleased with the quality of applicants who applied for the junior coaching positions and believe that those coaches appointed will do an excellent job and assist the players with both their development and enjoyment for the game." Forster said.
"The club prides itself on running an excellent junior program and we cannot see any reason why this will change in 2024 with the coaches that we have appointed" he said.
Additional coaches will be required for a number of the younger age groups once the club has determined how many teams they will field in 2024.
The club is also in negotiation with a coach for the Under 17's Boys team which will be a joint venture with Wyong Lakes. This appointment will be announced early in the New Year.
Congratulations to all appointees.
Registrations have now opened for the 2024.
For kids turning 8 - 17 years old in 2024 please register for Junior Football via this link:
https://www.playhq.com/afl/register/78e336
For kids turning 5 - 7 years old in 2024 please register for Auskick via this link
https://www.playhq.com/afl/register/e022b9
If you have any questions, or you're unsure about registration, or whether your child will be in Auskick or Junior football, please contact our Junior Football Manager at juniors@kvbombers.com
Life Member Inductee - Terry Ford
The Killarney Vale Australian Football Club are pleased to announce our 37th Life Member inducted in 2023 is Terrence Ford.
Terry Ford joined the Bombers in 1996 and hit the ground running finishing in top 5 of the Clubs B&F. After having the 1997 season away from and missing out of the premiership, he returned in 1998 to become a premiership player himself and was also adjudged Best on Ground in the Grand Final winning the McBain Medal! A tough and tenacious defender and the ultimate team man.
From there it was off field where Terry has had arguably the biggest impact. Wanting to help the club in anyway possible he became a mainstay of the clubs executive committee serving as Vice President for 3 years (2011-2013) then to the Secretary position for a total of 9 years and will again be Secretary in 2024!
Everything he does is for the club, he has its best interests at heart and just wants it to be as successful as it can be! In that time Terry has donated his time improving club facilities and doing whatever is needed when it’s needed! He has cooked up a storm many a time for the senior players on a Thursday night to make sure they have the best preparation for the weekends games!
Fordy was also apart of the First Grade Premiership Coaching Group in 2022 being Coach Shackleton’s Runner from 2019-2022 and helping deliver the Clubs first flag in 15 years!
2023 had him join the coaching ranks becoming a line coach for First Grade and did a fantastic job in what was a difficult season.
Terry is extremely popular amongst the playing group and around the club! He’s also been dubbed the “Commissioner of Welfare and Culture” which is a testament to exactly what he’s about and how much he’s loved.
Congratulations Fordy!
Forster Re-elected as President
Paul Forster was re-elected as President of the Killarney Vale AFC was the 2024 season at the clubs Annual General Meeting held recently.
It will the 14th season in which Forster has held the top position after taking over from Alan Elsworthy in 2011.
Forster will lead an unchanged Executive which includes Peter Harvey as Vice President, Terry Ford as Secretary and Peter Kelleher as Treasurer.
There were two changes on the Ordinary Committee with both Chris Forster and Courtney Barnett retiring from the Committee with Ashleigh Page and Ben Simpson taking their positions and joining Mick McLeod and Skye Bailey on the Committee.
We wish the Executive and the Committee all the best for the upcoming season.
Junior Football Operations Positions Confirmed
Killarney Vale AFC have confirmed the appointments of the Junior Football Operations positions for the 2024 season.
Claire Kelderman has been appointed to the newly created Junior Football Managers Position.
She will be assisted by Adam Demir who is the Junior Football Coordinator for the U15's & U17's whilst Rod McRobie will be the Junior Football Coordinator for U11's & U13's.
The Auskick Coordinator position is still vacant and if you are interested in this role please contact the club on gm@kvbombers.com .
We will Claire, Adam & Rod all the best in their new roles.
Junior Registration is now open for the 2024 season We will be fielding
teams in all age groups in both boys and girls! For kids turning 8 - 17
years old in 2024 please register for Junior Football via this link:
https://www.playhq.com/afl/register/78e336
For kids turning 5 - 7 years old in 2024 please register for Auskick via
this link
https://www.playhq.com/afl/register/e022b9
If you have any questions, or you're unsure about registration, or
whether your child will be in auskick or Junior football, please contact
our Junior Football Manager at juniors@kvbombers.com
Senior Coaches Confirmed
The Killarney vale AFC are pleased to confirm the reappointed of Jimmy Newburn as Men's Plate Coach and also the appointments of Brad Edwards and Courtney Barnett as Women's Cup and Plate Coaches respectively.
They would also like to thank outgoing coaches, Michael Smith, Sean Mitchell and Cassie White for their dedication and commitment in their time as coaches. They have left an excellent platform on which to build on.
Shackleton Signs on as Coach for 2024
Killarney Vale have confirmed the Corey Shackleton has signed on as Men's Black Diamond Coach for the 2024 season.
In a further boost Shackleton will also take on the newly appointed role of Club Coaching Coordinator which will see him oversee all senior and junior coaches.
The 2024 season will be Corey's 6th season as the Head Coach of the the Bombers, a tenure that has seen the Bombers play finals each year and of course reach the pinnacle in 2022 when they defeated Terrigal Avoca to claim the premiership.
Shackleton is excited to continue in the role,
"to coach the Bombers is a great honour and one that I cherish. Having won the Premiership in 2022 was one of the highlights of my football career and one I am keen to repeat" Shackleton said
"Last year was a great learning curve for both myself and the playing group and to be honest we probably didn't handle the premiership defence as well as we should have. I have had the opportunity to have a decent break since the end of the season and I am now keen to get back to work and help the playing group grow and improve" he added.
Shackleton is also excited about the new Coaching Cordinators role
" We have some very enthusiastic and knowledgable coaches throughout both the seniors and juniors and to be able to work with them help them not only grow and improve their skillset but have all the coaches throughout the club pulling in the same direction can only be a positive" he said.
On the playing front Corey said that the club expected to lose a couple of players but he is also in deep discussion with a number of players about joining the club and he hopes to have some exciting announcements in the near future.
Last years Women's Coaches, Michael Smith and Sean Mitchell (Black Diamond Cup) and Cassi White (Black Diamond Plate) have indicated that they are steppoing down from their roles and as such these roles will be advertised shortly.
Photo: President, Paul Forster (left) and Corey Shackleton