Essendon Royals 2024 AGM Summary
The Essendon Royals held their Annual General Meeting last night, with members gathering to elect a new committee and reflect on the club’s achievements and challenges over the past year. The Royals are excited to welcome a fresh leadership team that will guide the club into 2025 and beyond.
The newly elected committee members are as follows:
- President: Vitale Ferrante
- Vice President: David Minnala
- Secretary: Matthew Galea
- Treasurer: Jenny Palmisano
- Seniors Representative: Steven Tribuzio
- Juniors Representative: Sherene Di Sauro
This new committee represents a blend of experience and passion, committed to building on the club’s strong foundations.
A Heartfelt Farewell to Outgoing President Richard Di Sauro
A special acknowledgment was given to outgoing President Richard Di Sauro for his remarkable seven years of service. Richard’s tenure marks one of the longest continuous stints as president in the club’s history, tying for the longest and positioning him as the third longest-serving president overall.
Richard’s leadership has been pivotal in shaping the modern Essendon Royals. Some highlights of his impactful tenure include:
- Club Relocation: Under Richard’s leadership, the Royals successfully completed the relocation to Cross Keys Reserve, a significant milestone for the club that the previous committee initiated.
- Redevelopment of the Football Department: Richard advocated for substantial investments in coaching, creating roles like Head of Football and Technical Directors, which have elevated the club’s football operations.
- Navigating COVID Challenges: Richard guided the Royals through the tough COVID years (2020-2021), ensuring stability and continued growth during challenging times.
- Junior Boys NPL License: He and his committee secured the JBNPL license in 2019, expanding elite development pathways for young male players.
- Promotion of Women’s Football: Richard empowered his committee to champion significant investment in women’s football. During his tenure as President, the Senior Women’s team progressed from State League 2 in 2019 to the NPLW Finals in 2024, marking an incredible journey through multiple promotions.
- Junior Girls NPL License: In 2024, Richard’s committee and technical team, inclusive of our Senior Women’s Coaching staff and Techincal Dirctors, secured the JGNPL license, creating further development opportunities for young female players.
- Expansion of Sponsorship: The club’s sponsorship pool grew significantly under his presidency, with the overall value increasing fourfold and the number of sponsors more than doubling.
- Senior Men’s Success: Richard was at the helm as president of the senior men’s team, which achieved promotion in 2022, establishing the team in NPL3/VPL2.
Acknowledging the Service of Frank Nappo and Salim Hijazeen
The club also extends its heartfelt thanks to Frank Nappo, who has dedicated six years of service as the Juniors Representative. Frank’s commitment to the junior teams has been instrumental in building a supportive and vibrant junior program at Essendon Royals.
Additionally, we thank Salim Hijazeen for his efforts as the club’s Secretary in 2024, where he worked diligently to support the club’s operations over the past season.
Looking Ahead: A Message from New President Vitale Ferrante
In his inaugural address to members, newly elected President Vitale Ferrante expressed his gratitude to Richard Di Sauro and all past committee and sub-committee members for their tireless efforts. Vitale highlighted his commitment to building on the existing foundation and further improving the club’s operational structures.
The new committee is enthusiastic about the future and looks forward to sharing more information about the club’s plans for 2025. This includes developments across operations, events, and football programs, as the Royals continue their journey of growth and excellence on and off the field.
Stay tuned for updates as we embark on an exciting new chapter for Essendon Royals!