Author: George Kouroumalis

RE: Annual General Meeting 

Notice is hereby given that the Annual General Meeting of South Melbourne Football Club Ltd will be held as follows:

Date
Wednesday 23rd of March 2016

Location
Presidents Room
Lakeside Stadium
25 Albert Road Drive
Albert Park VIC 3206

Time
9.00 pm

It is intended to propose two Special Resolutions at the AGM providing for the amendment of the South Melbourne Football Club Ltd Constitution. Pursuant to Section 249L(1)(c) of the Corporations Act 2001, Notice is hereby given that three Special Resolutions will be proposed. The Special Resolutions are as follows:

Special Resolutions:

A. That Clause 1.1(a) of the Constitution be amended so that the full stop after the last word being “club” be removed and the following words added:

“which, among others, specifically include the fostering and advancement of men’s, women’s, boys’ and girls’ football equally.”

B. That Clause 9.1A be inserted after Clause 9.1 and before Clause 9.2 of the Constitution and shall read as follows:

“That the Board of Directors shall include at least one female director at all times

C. Add Subclause 1.1(k) which shall read as follows:

“to promote the involvement of men, women, boys and girls in all functions and facets of the club equally and with a view to the club being represented and governed equally by men and women and to create and maintain an environment in which men, women, boys and girls will all thrive.”

The agenda shall be as follows:

1. Confirmation of Minutes of the previous Annual General Meeting;

2. Finance Report and presentation of Audited Accounts of the Club;

3. Appointment of Auditors and determination of their remuneration;

4. Consider and vote upon the three proposed Special Resolutions

5. Any other business of which due notice shall have been given.

Explanatory Note relating to the proposed Special Resolution:

The proposed Special Resolutions are required to give effect to the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) entered into by South Melbourne Football Club Ltd (SMFC) and South Melbourne Women’s Football Club (SMWFC), which, in turn, led to the one-club policy, which has been adopted by SMFC.

SMWFC has passed the necessary Special Resolution to give effect to the MOU and it has embraced the one-club policy.

The MOU provides that SMFC will operate all women’s and girls’ teams which were previously operated by SMWFC as it is able to do under FFV governing rules. Presently, SMWFC is not a member of WNPL, and neither SMFC nor SMWFC have any female teams playing in the WNPL and accordingly, SMFC is free to field all women’s and girls’ teams previously operated by SMWFC. It is anticipated that SMFC will also join the WNPL in the near future and as such, it will be fielding women’s and girls’ teams in the WNPL.

The WNPL, like the NPL, limits the number of teams which can be fielded by a club. It has been agreed by SMFC and SMWFC that if women and girls are fielded in the WNPL, such remaining women’s and girls’ teams (“Community Teams”) will be fielded and operated by SMWFC and SMFC will ensure that SMWFC has access to all facilities to which it has previously had access to ensure it is able to properly operate those teams.

The joining together again of our club so that it again fields men’s, women’s, boys’ and girls’ teams under the one club banner has been welcomed universally and the club seeks that the Special Resolutions be adopted to give full effect to these positive changes.

If you seek a copy of the 2015 Audited Financial Accounts prior to the Annual General Meeting, you can download a copy from our website www.smfc.com.au or email the club at admin@smfc.com.au or contact the club on (03) 9645 9797 and ask for a copy to be posted out to you.
Kind Regards

Leo Athanasakis
President

RE: Annual General Meeting 

Notice is hereby given that the Annual General Meeting of South Melbourne Hellas Club Ltd will be held as follows:

Date: 
Wednesday 23rd of March 2016

Location:
Presidents Room
Lakeside Stadium
25 Albert Road Drive
Albert Park VIC 3206

Time: 
7.00 pm

It is intended to propose three Special Resolutions at the AGM providing for the amendment of the South Melbourne Hellas Club Ltd Articles of Association (now called the Constitution). Pursuant to Section 249L(1)(c) of the Corporations Act 2001, Notice is hereby given that three Special Resolutions will be proposed. The Special Resolutions are as follows:

Special Resolutions:

A. That Article 2 of the Articles of Association of South Melbourne Hellas Club Ltd be amended

i. to delete the following words:

• “The Committee” means the members for the time being of the Committee hereby constituted (deleted words)

ii. To insert in place of the deleted words, the following words:

• “The Board” means the members for the time being of the Board hereby constituted

B. To replace the word “Committee” wherever it appears in the Articles of Association with the word “Board”.

C. That article 36 of the Articles of Association of South Melbourne Hellas Club be repealed and replaced with the following:

• “36(i) The Board of the Club shall be comprised of no more than eleven and no less than seven members, such number being determined by the Directors from time to time and which shall include at least one female Director at all times;
• (ii) The Board shall consist of the President and such other office holders as the Board shall deem appropriate from time to time.”

The agenda shall be as follows:

1. Confirmation of Minutes of the previous Annual General Meeting;
2. Finance Report and presentation of Audited Accounts of the Club;
3. President’s Report -: Tabling of the following documents
   a. Lease of Exclusive Areas of Lakeside Stadiu
   b. Licence for Non – Exclusive Areas of Lakeside Stadium
   c. Capital Funding Agreement
4. Appointment of Auditors and determination of their remuneration;
5. Consider and vote upon the three proposed Special Resolutions
6. Any other business of which due notice shall have been given.

Explanatory Note relating to the proposed Special Resolution:

As all members are aware, South Melbourne Football Club Ltd (SMFC) adopted a new Constitution following the 2009 AGM as required by FFV.

For many years now, the Club has operated with the same Board of Directors having been elected to the Boards of both South Melbourne Hellas Club Ltd (SMHC) and South Melbourne Football Club (SMFC).

The Board of SMHC proposes the three Special Resolutions because it considers it is best for the club that the provisions of its Constitution in respect of the number of directors be consistent with the provisions of the SMFC Constitution. It is also of the view that it is important and appropriate to update these provisions of its Constitution to reflect modern practice, as provided in the new South Melbourne Football Club Ltd Constitution and also to reflect the Club’s current operational needs, the manner in which it has operated in recent years and how it proposes to continue to be operated and governed.

We urge all members to support and adopt these Special Resolutions which will assist the orderly and efficient conduct of the Club’s business.

If you seek a copy of the 2015 Audited Financial Accounts prior to the Annual General Meeting, you can download a copy from our website www.smfc.com.au or email the club at admin@smfc.com.au or contact the club on (03) 9645 9797 and ask for a copy to be posted out to you.
Kind Regards

Leo Athanasakis
President

South Melbourne FC is excited to announce that Plastamasta Knauf will continue its long association with the club in 2016 after confirming itself as a Platinum Partner for the upcoming season.



Plastamasta has been a very important supporter of SMFC for the past four seasons, including being the club’s major partner in 2014 and 2015. In 2016, the Plastamasta Knauf brand will be showcased on the back of the playing shirts of our Senior Men, Women and Youth teams.

Plastamasta is the national distribution network for its parent company Knauf, with over 47 outlets Australia-wide. Knauf manufactures and distributes plasterboard, compounds, cornice and associated products and systems. Plastamasta seeks to establish lasting relationships with its customers by exceeding their expectations through exceptional service, quality innovative products and a commitment to over-deliver.

With two manufacturing facilities in Matraville (Sydney) and Altona (Melbourne), over 220 employees and a national franchise Plastamasta network, Knauf is a major supplier of plasterboard and associated products to the light weight construction industry. A quality range of products and systems designed for performance provide solutions for fire, water, impact, acoustic and decorative applications for all construction projects – commercial and residential.

Knauf, a family-owned company based in Germany, has a strong global presence in the construction materials industry. With more than 220 facilities, 70 quarrying operations and 23,000 employees in over 60 countries the company is one of the leading plasterboard manufacturers in the world producing more than 1 billion square metres of plasterboard per year. Furthermore, total consolidated revenue for the Knauf Group is over 8 billion euros per annum.


Speaking with smfc.com.au, SMFC President Leo Athanasakis was very pleased about the continuation of the partnership. “Plastamasta Knauf has been a wonderful supporter of our club throughout the past four seasons and we are extremely excited to have them renew their partnership for the 2016 season. Both Andrew and Harry Mesourouni have been instrumental in the growth of our club over the past few seasons and we are over the moon to have them committed to helping us achieve our lofty goals in 2016. We’d also like to thank Graham Wood of Knauf Australia for his generous support also throughout this period.”

outh Melbourne FC is delighted to announce the renewal of its Platinum Partnership with AIS Insurance, with its logo proudly featuring on the sleeve of the playing shirt for the 2016 National Premier League Victoria season. AIS Insurance will also be our major partner at the 2016 SMFC Jersey Presentation Night, with details to be announced shortly.

The company was founded in October 1990 by Brendon Davis as a one-person business specialising in insuring all forms of business and commercial risks. AIS initially operated from leased premises in Burwood, and in June 1991, AIS moved to South Melbourne where it has been based ever since. The organisation has steadily grown to become the leading autonomous Victorian based Insurance Broker. Clients work closely with AIS Insurance Brokers, knowing they receive superior advice and that they will recommend the insurance program and insurer that provide the best protection for their business, rather than an insurer or option which offers an incentive to AIS.

AIS Insurance negotiate specific corporate and commercial insurance placement for clients in a variety of industry classifications and also niche products developed for special client groups. AIS Insurance has several specialist teams including: Property and Construction Team, Professional Indemnity and Directors Liability, Workers Compensation and Workcover, and Claims Management.

AIS have over 30 staff with in house specialists in most general insurance disciplines. The organisation is one of the few Victorian Brokers admitted as coverholders at Lloyds of London since 1994.

Brendon Davis, founder of AIS Insurance, has been a generous financial contributor to South Melbourne FC through event and signage sponsorship, purchasing players at player auctions, and general assistance over the years. Brendon commenced sponsoring South Melbourne FC in the 1996/97 National Soccer League season, and was also awarded the Sam Papasavas Award for his contribution to the Club in 2006. 2016 will mark his 20th season as a sponsor of the club.

Speaking to smfc.com.au, SMFC Corporate Sales Director Nicholas Maikousis spoke highly of Brendon and his support of the club. “We would like to thank Brendon for the past 20 seasons supporting our great club. Brendon is not only a corporate partner, but a true South person who has been an enormous part of the club throughout the past decade. We thank him for his generous support in 2016 and hope we can mark his anniversary by holding up some silverware at season’s end.”

South Melbourne FC is proud to announce the re-commitment of Veale Partners as a Platinum Partner ahead of the 2016 season.

Like SMFC, Veale Partners has over 50 years of history. It is a three-partner medium sized accountancy firm that works hard to achieve the pinnacle in business and personal objectives for its clients.

Veale Partners was a proud sponsor of the SMFC Juniors for a few seasons before also sponsoring the Senior Men’s team as a Corporate Partner in 2015. This season, the Veale Partners logo will feature on the playing shorts of all SMFC players, from the Senior Men’s and Women’s teams right down to the Juniors.

Mario Vinaccia of Veale Partners spoke with smfc.com.au about his firm re-committing its partnership with SMFC in 2016. “We at Veale Partners are extremely happy to be involved with a club that has a rich history and promising future. We recognise the values portrayed by SMFC in developing young players for the future of the game which is strongly aligned with the values we hold true in developing our young professionals and team members alike.
We look forward to a great season ahead.”

South Melbourne FC is extremely excited to formally launch our new playing strips for the 2016 National Premier League season.

The playing strips have been produced by our Platinum Partner BLK Sport, who signed a three-year deal late last year to be the official SMFC apparel supplier for all of our registered teams.

In 2016, BLK Sport will provide playing gear to our Senior Men’s and Women’s sides, plus our entire Youth set up. The new playing apparel has been designed by BLK to combine a blend of our traditional elements and colours, whilst also having a modern and fresh feel.

After consulting some of our playing legends from the 1960s, we decided to pay tribute to that era – particularly to the late Takis Mantarakis – by adding hooped socks to our home kit. Hooped socks were worn as part of our home strip during the early 1960s and will be worn in 2016 to give us a new unique look compared to other NPL clubs.

Our entire merchandise range will be available for purchase through BLK’s custom-built website in the coming days, as well as on match days at Lakeside Stadium.

Watch the launch video

South Melbourne FC is excited to announce the return of the 2015 SMFC PS4 NPL Tipping Competition.

Prizes for the top three lucky winners include:

First Prize:
SMFC soccer ball signed by the 2016 Senior Squad

Second Prize:
2017 Adult Membership

Third Prize:
2 tickets to the 2017 SMFC Jersey Presentation Night

Its easy to enter, and lots of fun. In each round you will tip for a home win, draw, or away win. You will get 1 point for a correct win or 1 point for a correct draw. The current round will close 1 hour before the first game of each round is to be played. If you forget to submit your tips in for a round, you will get the lowest score of the round minus 1 point. If you start late, you will be allocated the average points of the competition.

To enter the tipping competition, please go to http://tipping.smfc.com.au/

South Melbourne FC is excited to announce Goody’s Burger House as a new Gold Partner for the 2016 season.

Goody’s has over 160 restaurants, including over 140 throughout Greece and Cyprus. Goody’s are expanding their operations to Melbourne in 2016 and will open their first unique store in the CBD, with the opening date set for April this year.

With a fully recharged atmosphere and the menu of an authentic burger house, Goody’s Burger House will be looking to replicate its European success and become the new benchmark in fast casual dining in Melbourne.

Speaking with smfc.com.au, Goody’s spokesmen George Iliopoulos & Con Tangalakis were excited with the new partnership. “South Melbourne is an iconic brand in Australian football and we immediately wanted to link Goody’s in Australia with such a large club. We are extremely excited to be part of the South family in 2016 and we look forward to working with the club on various initiatives throughout the season.”

Also speaking to smfc.com.au, SMFC Operations Manager George Kouroumalis echoed the excitement. “For many of us that have travelled to Europe, the Goody’s brand and concept is something familiar with us all and as a club we are excited to team up with the Australian arm of this wonderful organisation. We have some wonderful fan based initiatives that we will roll out in 2016, allowing for all of our supporters to also enjoy the Goody’s experience here in Australia. We thank George Illiopoulos and Con Tangalakis for their support.”

South Melbourne FC would like to confirm the release of Jason Hicks, with both parties mutually terminating his contract with immediate effect.

Since the termination, Jason has since joined he Melbourne Knights.

With four days remaining in the transfer window, the move allows the club to have more flexibility before the deadline.

Stay tuned to our website and social media pages for the latest news as it comes to hand.

We wish Jason all the best for 2016 and beyond.