Welcome to 2025
Still nursing a hangover from our epic centenary celebrations last year? Well, get ready to raise a glass again! 2025 is a year of milestones for our club, with our junior section celebrating 80 years of nurturing young talent and our incredible women’s team marking their 25th anniversary.
Exciting times ahead! Both our junior and club committees have welcomed a wave of fresh faces, bringing a renewed energy and enthusiasm. We’;re also taking a fresh look at how we run things, forming small teams to tackle specific areas and ensure we're achieving our goals.
Stay tuned for updates on upcoming events, progress with exciting initiatives, and how you can get involved. Let’s make this another fantastic year for our club!
A WARM WELCOME FROM YOUR PRESIDENT, DAVID CAMPBELL
As a former player, newly elected President David Campbell, now President, shares his deep connection to the club and his journey from junior days to first-grade success. Now, as President, he’s committed to fostering a strong, inclusive culture and building on the club’s proud legacy.
It’s an honour to be elected President of the Wanderers Club. As a former player myself, having worn the Wanderers jersey for 156 games across junior and senior grades, I understand the deep passion and commitment that runs through this club.
My journey with the Wanderers began in 1988 as a junior and continued through my senior career, ultimately leading to my proud achievement of being capped as the 807th first-grade player in 1997.
I am immensely proud of my time on the field and the enduring friendships I forged during those years. After a successful career in financial services in Sydney, I returned with my family to Newcastle in 2021 and immediately reconnected with the club. For the past three years, i’ve been actively involved, coaching junior teams, including the U13s girls 7s in 2024 and currently coaching the under 15 boys. I’ve also had the privilege of managing club sponsorships, building valuable relationships within our community.
I believe in fostering a strong, inclusive club culture where everyone feels valued and respected. Teamwork, passion, and respect will be the cornerstones of my presidency. I’m excited to work alongside the dedicated committee and all our members to ensure the Wanderers Club continues to thrive for many years to come.
If we are successful in creating an environment where people feel inspired and connected, others will be drawn to join us and share in this journey. I look forward to seeing you all around the club!
David Campbell
2025 Club Committee Update
A heartfelt thank you to our outgoing committee members for their incredible dedication and impact on the club.
As we look to the future, please join us in welcoming our new committee, led by President David Campbell and supported by a talented team of office bearers and board members.
A huge thank you to the outgoing committee members for their tireless efforts and dedication. Your hard work and commitment have made a significant impact on our club, and we are incredibly grateful for your contributions.
The new committee is ready to take on the challenges and opportunities ahead. Each member brings a unique set of skills and experiences to the table providing confidence that together we will achieve great things.
Please join us in welcoming our team:
Office Bearers:
- David Campbell – President
- Roddy Scott – Vice President
- Andrew Terrell – Secretary
- Todd Henderson – Treasurer
Board Members:
- Jeremy Raftos
- Brett Derwin
- Peter Fallon
- Peter Chrystal
Junior Rugby Update
Preparations for junior rugby are in full swing! Get updates on our 2025 teams, meet the dedicated subcommittee, support team, and 2025 team officials working behind the scenes to ensure a fantastic season, and get details of the 2025 Wee Wanderers events.
Junior rugby preparations are well underway! Teams will be entered from U8 to U18 excluding U13, with an U7 team yet to be confirmed. Stay tuned for more details on training schedules, registration information and upcoming trials on our club website.
Subcommittee Officials and Support Members:
- Ben Towers – President
- Josh Kakoulidis – Vice-President
- Angela Schneider – Secretary
- Al Warren – Secretary
- Steph Kakoulidis – Registrar
- Position Vacant – Logistics
- Emma Hughes – Member Protection Officer
- Carla Barber – Gear Steward
- Marie Doyle – Social Media
- Alissa Kirrage – Canteen Coordinator
Committee Support Team:
- Mick Noonan
- Brian Trevitt
- Colleen van Laar
- Sally Farrell
- Alexandria Dagg
- Sally Trevitt
- Brooke Coterell
- Alan Chapman
2025 Team Officials:
- Under 18: Nick Hewitt, Ben Coker, David Tynan, Manager to be appointed.
- Under 16: Dan Beckett, Reece Montgomery, Angela Schneider.
- Under 15: Anthony Strachan, Richard Tait, Dean Menzies, Dallas Bochneck, Clare Brinkley.
- Under 14: Jeremy Raftos, Dane McNamara, James Gardiner, Christian Kirrage, Alissa Kirrage.
- Under 12: Matt Farrell, Ben Towers, Sean Prinsloo, Leo Fuiamoano, Colleen Janowski, Sally Farrell.
- Under 11: Al Warren, Josh Kakoulidis, Adam Dagg, Steph Kakoulidis, Alex Dagg.
- Under 10: Ben Towers, Anthony Barrett, Rhys Hitchcock, Suli Moala.
- Under 9: Josh Kakoulidis, Sean Prinsloo, Adam Dagg, Sims Caleb, Steph Kakoulidis, Alex Dagg.
- Under 8: Dan Bird, Andrew Fletcher, Bill Mcglynn, Manager to be appointed.
Wee Wanderers 2025
Wee Wanderers program is back with fun-filled Friday sessions that your kids won’t want to miss. Spots are limited, so secure your place today!
- Session Dates: 7/2, 14/2, 21/2, 28/2
- Inclusions: A jersey and a special gift for every participant, plus a free sausage sizzle at the end of each session.
- Location: No.2 Sportsground, Smith Street, Newcastle West
- Register here.
For more info, email registrarj@wanderersrugby.com.au. Let’s kick off 2025 with rugby fun for the whole family!
senior rugby update
We are excited to kick off our 2025 season in the Seniors! Meet our 2025 coaching team, led by Luke Braid (First Grade) and other talented leaders across all grades. Get all the details on when training starts and how to register if you’re yet to do so.
As we gear up for an exciting 2025 season, we’re thrilled to welcome back senior members back for the year and introduce our new First Grade coach, Luke Braid. A former Blues captain in Super Rugby and New Zealand Under-20 World Champion, Luke brings exceptional experience and leadership to the club. This section also includes important details on player registration, training kick-off dates, and upcoming trial games to get you ready for the season ahead.
Senior rugby coaching appointments:
- Luke Braid – First grade
- Adam Lewis – Second grade
- Shane Goldthorpe – Third grade
- Megan McGee – Women
- Nick Hewitt – Under 18’s
- Rhys Hitchcock and Paul Dineen – Fourth grade
Senior Training Kick-Off
Senior training for the 2025 season begins on Tuesday, 28 January, at National Park No. 5, with sessions held every Tuesday and Thursday evening from 5:30 PM. Get ready to hit the ground running and prepare for an exciting season ahead!
Reminder: Register for the 2025 Season
Senior players, it’s time to register for the 2025 season! Simply log in to your RugbyXplorer account to secure your spot and ensure you’re ready to hit the field.
Don’t delay—register today and gear up for an exciting season ahead!
Upcoming Trial Games
To build our match fitness for an exciting season ahead, our senior teams are gearing up with a series of trial games and Sevens galas:
- Terrigal Trial Game: Join us at Dangar Park, Mayfield, on 29 March for matches against Terrigal, featuring the 18s, Women’s, and Men’s teams.
- The Whale Memorial Sevens: Wanderers will field Women’s and Men’s teams in this exciting 7-a-side competition on Saturday, 8 February, at Marcellin Park.
- Crescent Head Sevens: Both Women’s and Men’s teams will compete in this thrilling event on 15 February at Crescent Head.
Let’s hit the ground running and show what the Wanderers are made of!
Netball Update
We’re excited to announce that registration for Wanderers Netball opens on 16 January at 5 PM for senior and Under 21s teams.
Registration Fee: $210 for the season
Registration Link: https://www.playhq.com/netball-australia/register/6ad4b9
Enquiries: netball.president@wanderersrugby.com.au
Wanderers Netball is a fun, social club that always puts its players first. Have a full team ready?
We’re ready to welcome you! Gather your squad and register to be part of an exciting 2025 season.
