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State_of_things_in_Aust

Page history last edited by Tom van Bodegraven 15 years ago

This is taken from an Australian Blog

 

FEBRUARY 20, 2009

The End of an Era

 

It’s difficult to express the sadness and frustration I feel when all I can do is stand by and watch something that I love slip away. It’s like watching a beloved relative slowly be defeated by dementia. They deteriorate slowly until the day they wake up and no longer remember who you are… That’s how I feel when I think about my beloved Petanque.

We used to have so much fun. What happened?

I love nothing more than listening to stories of the good times at petanque… a time when families put aside their Sundays to spend time with other families and enjoy the sunshine and games. For some of you, you will undoubtedly be able to conjure up hilarious memories at the sheer mention of names like Dumont and Ines…Oh the antics!

I’m reminded of a time when everyone would carpool to the Australian Championships. Each player carrying feelings of hope and anticipation that maybe this year was their year, however each being reassured by the fact that whatever happened, that the Sunday night dinner would be the culmination of another fabulous season.

These National tournaments were a time to rekindle old friendships, fight it out under the hardest of conditions (for those of you that remember Newcastle 99) and form new teams for the following season.

I remember the weeks leading up to the Nationals as being electric…Social games were rampant as teams took any opportunity to train and assess their skills against their fellow players. That’s how we all improved in those days…as Friday night games became an opportunity to experiment with new combinations and a chance to showcase our newest tricks.

Games would last sometimes until the wee hours, however we didn’t mind as we were fuelled by passion, pizza and Pernod (what better combination for success?).

And whilst players changed teams nearly as often as their underwear, there was still a genuine respect and loyalty to fellow players…a kind of unspoken understanding that the desire to win was never as important as the need to be involved in a real community…because ultimately isn’t that why we play petanque instead of golf or chess?

Dreams of winning the Nationals were never far, but for most of us the interstate and winery tournaments became the highlight of the petanque calendar. Coonawarra, Avoca, Pizzini, Wollongong and Tahbilk were amongst some of the most popular tournaments of the season as each location gave players an opportunity to escape from real life and savour the game.

This was a time when the Saturday night was almost as anticipated as watching the final on the Sunday afternoon. One minute you’re fighting it out for sheepstations on the piste, and the next minute you’re doing the tango with Guy or dancing the Nutbush with Solange! And you know you had a big night if you could keep up with the likes of Jean-Claude and Christian Draschler! I mean, who could forget the banquets at Blue Pyrenees winery…they were legendary!

So now I’m sad because I’ve lost something that once meant the world to me. Something that once gave many of us a true sense of belonging and the feeling that we truly were lucky to be part of something that made us feel so alive.

So what happened?

 

27 COMMENTS:

Anonymous said...

I have seen a similar disappointment from someone of Western Australia. The person wrote a day to day story about Petanque life in Western Australia from 2005 to 2008. It has been written apparently according to the feelings of this person.

I assume that it can be true when you see the name of the blog link: http://boulhonnest.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

it's also sad for new players (or for those trying out the sport) to have to see this hostility...a definite 'putoff'

Anonymous said...

I couldn't agree more with this article... And I just want to thank whoever created this site for allowing me to express how I really feel without fearing repercussions....I have tears in my eyes just reading this article.... There was a time I felt we had something so special in our Petanque community. There were people from all ages and different backgrounds sharing together their passion....I still remember at times on Sunny Sundays thinking to myself...How lucky I was.. I unfortunately don't think like this anymore... Please get out Petanque back...

Anonymous said...

i used to love lookin fwd to the Easter nash knowin if ya win, ya goin to the worlds....now that that's gone, you gotta know who’s who in the zoo if ya wanna chance of bein selected to go anywhere, espec. a worlds........someone please, bring back the REAL nash !!

i want it to be fun again where you can choose your own team, rock up at a nash, thinkin "this is gonna be mi year !!" and then take mi team to a worlds if ya win.....now that’s cool man !!

all mi mates used to love that about petonk as well, now they don’t rock up any more coz they know there’s a lot a crap goin on……we gotta cut the crap and bring back the good times baby….yeah !

Anonymous said...

Could not have written it better if I tried.

Only players of that era will feel and understand what the writer is conveying. It is

about time that real petanque players unite

and cut all the crap. I for one have lost the

enthusiam, the camaraderie has been taken away.

Anonymous said...

We should create a community of the Boule like the Lord of the rings to defeat the Sauron of the Petanque.

The time is going quick, we have one month to act and come back to the lovely world of Petanque.

All together we can do it! Unifions nous chers amis pour le combat final!

Anonymous said...

Coonawarra 2009 was great, the spirit has not gone out there thanks to Mal and Guy - everyone should use them as am example of what unity and the upholding of dignity can do in a game I know we all love - don't give up, it will be your loss. Change is imminent everyone, just wait and see, for after 9 years in the job - he'll run out of 'yes men' sooner or later ;)

Anonymous said...

I think you make a very good point about the “Yes Men” part. I’ve just been an innocent bystander for a number of years now, just watching the change over time of the men around him that he has used….. Ken Fields, Chinka Steel, Richard Tarlinton, and in Victoria there were good people that he burnt as well Rob Head, Vincent Ruiz…and on the coaching front there’s been Alan Irwin and now Jean-Francois Veyssiere. All people that had something to bring to the game but it seems he can’t handle it when they start to threaten his power…….oh, how I wish for a change this Easter….it would be a breath of fresh air to the petanque community

Anonymous said...

Ironic isn’t it?

As far as I can ascertain, the only comments that Roger has made that are negative (and even that is debatable) are:

“Trigger happy disciplinary hand of PA” (which I believe is a fact) & “Delusions of grandeur” (I believe the latter is actually a direct quote from a PA itself)

What I have read are honest, passionate, nostalgic and emotional recollections of a game that once was and is sadly missed…

The only “vile accusations”, “mud” slinging & defamatory remarks actually come from Andre himself – is this the result of a guilty conscience?

Is this what he constitutes as his version of freedom of speech? Accusing someone of being “gutless” because they have the foresight to anticipate disciplinary action that could possible ostracise them from a community that they fear is being torn apart by this dictator?

Please let me state this here & now for the record – my experience of Petanque is limited. I have attended many social games & watched many close friends compete in games where selections were on the line & followed their Petanque careers with eager anticipation for their success…my experience thanks to them is wonderful. My appreciation of the skill required & the strategy behind the game is due to their enthusiasm & passion. My pain is the undue stress & politics that they have had to endure in matters that should not even come near a piste.

My distain is for an administration that is archaic, dictatorial, closed minded & corrupt, not for a community that wants what once was & what they know can be again. For them I offer my respect, my support & my faith that they will be victorious in their quest.

Michelle

Lastly, in the words of Winston Churchill 

". . . You ask, what is our policy? I will say; it is to wage war, by sea, land and air, with all our might and with all the strength that God can give us: to wage war against a monstrous tyranny, never surpassed in the dark lamentable catalogue of human crime. That is our policy. You ask, what is our aim? I can answer with one word: Victory — victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory, however long and hard the road may be; for without victory there is no survival."

Anonymous said...

Please read resignation letter from our 'last' National Coach , Interesting this was never circulated by PFA? - 

Andre,

10 years in politique is long. I believe the 9 years spent by you as President of

Petanque Australia are taking their toll.

During the last 2 years we have been working together trying to turn our game into a

sport. The structure of coaches around Australia is doing a great job. We have sent

more people overseas than ever and they came back with good results. But foremost, as

Director of Coaching, I endeavoured to make sure that every player in every club in

every State had the same rights and equal opportunity to play for either a State or a

National Team. I supported and stood up for my coaches against any unjustified

attacks or bad behaviour. I asked from them the same rigour we ask of the players.

When I told you I was receiving some disturbing letters and reports from WA

regarding the selection and the action of the PFA representative, you decided that it

was urgent to do nothing. When I told you than the State Coach, Angelique, was very

concerned about the fairness of selection, you did nothing. I was not asking you to

take sanction, but at least to conduct an investigation. Instead you promoted the guy

Secretary of our federation. It would seem it was more important for you to keep a

few votes for your re-election rather than digging into something which may have

turned fishy for one of your PFA board member colleagues.

We are, as office bearers, here to work for every women and men regardless if they

are our friend or not, regardless if they are on our side or not. You failed them. I

had no choice but to resign, to support Angelique, to show the Petanque community

something bad was happening, to stop you doing exactly what you reproached

others for doing .

Angelique showed you she has balls to do her job. I remember when she was ringing

me in December, sometimes crying, it was hard. But she kept going for the good of all

our community. This little woman, alone, showed you more courage in 4 weeks than you

have shown us in 9 years.

Now you have removed Angelique's license and will put her in front of a tribunal. You

are starting your cleaning. Her exasperation made her write some harsh words but it

was only the frustration of your inaction. You are starting another personal fight for

your own good. You have no shame writing untrue things and putting dirt on the people

who are doing their job. That’s the way now - if we don’t agree with you, we end up at

the tribunal. You are showing a double standard which is not noble and a message is

being sent to the Petanque community of “ do what I say, don’t do what I do”.

I don’t think you are a dictator. I just think you lost touch with what was your mission

and duty of care for all the men and women of our Federation. At the end of October

you were writing in your report, that we are lucky as the court costs you dragged us

into will be covered by insurance. In January, you had spent $8 ,000 in lawyer 's

fees and they are not covered by the insurance. No explanation.

Again, 9 years is a long time and you should, for the good of Petanque, consider

retirement.

I know you still can pull a few tricks from your sleeves to be re-elected, getting votes

from clubs nobody has heard of, making people scared with names of persons you hate,

but it looks more than the slow decline of an empire rather than the dynamism

and energy Petanque needs to keep going forward.

Jean Francois VEYSSIERE

Former National Director of Coaching

Anonymous said...

It's a very good summary of the 9 years of bad management.

sylvio jolicoeur said...

Well done Jean francois at least you were frank with your comments. Just like you I do not need to be anonymous. I have been nicknamed Bayard le chevalier sans peur sans reproche. I think we need a sweeping change at the top of the petanque hierarchy. There has been very undiplomatic language coming from people who were suppose to be our leaders. The result is an organisation who has not support of various state leagues and players. We need to bring the humane face back to the game. To compensate hard working players by susidising part or completely their trip whilst representig our country at various petanque competitions. To do this we need harmony and respect from all quaters.The day we have this everyone will work to build up the qitty. At the moment we seems to have money for officials. 

After being passive over the years listening and reading all the bullshit I am willing to put my body on the line for the cause of the game. I am sure my 35 years of experience in the field of taxation/management/public accountant will be of some use to the game we all love. On that point I will submit my name and a team for the position of president of petanque australia and various key office holders. I think a raw person is needed for the progession of the game. Anyone who want to support my candidature please email me at srjaccounting@bigpond.com I want to have as much feedback as possible. If the support is there I will definitely postulate.If anyone want to know my back ground please contact me either by email or by pnone 02 88243485 

Sylvio Jolicoeur

Jean Francois said...

Just to let everyone knows, I didn't post or I didn't ask my open letter to be on this blog. I will sign my comment if I want to say something.

I believe in vision and plans for the future. A new president should not be elected because he is against Andre, but because he/she/they have a program for the good of our community. I am not interested to be an accessory in a vendetta. I just want to talk about our people and what we can do to develop and improve our game.

Jean Francois Veyssiere

Anonymous said...

The progam I would suggest is:

1)Get more children involved in the PFA competitions, then to go to the schools, to train them. That will bring sponsors into the games and send the players who deserve to defend the level and not the players who can afford to travel with a poor level of game.

2)Introduce the ranking handicap points like in France, that would stop cheating in the competitions. 

CLASSIFICATION DES JOUEURS

Trois classes de joueurs sont instituées.

CLASSEMENT “ELITE”

Dans cette classe, trois niveaux seront déterminés pour la présentation aux pouvoirs publics, avec les mêmes

conséquences sportives :

- Elite départementale : déterminée par le Comité et comprenant notamment les championnes et champions

départementaux en triplette, doublette et tête-à-tête, voire les vice champions et tout joueur jugé d’un niveau

suffisant.

- Elite régionale : déterminée par la Ligue et comprenant notamment les championnes et champions

régionaux seniors en triplette, doublette et tête-à-tête, voire les vice champions et tout joueur jugé d’un niveau

suffisant.

- Elite nationale : déterminée par la Fédération et comprenant notamment les membres du « Club France »,

les championnes et champions nationaux seniors en triplette, doublette, doublette mixte et tête-à-tête, voire les

vice champions et tout joueur jugé d’un niveau suffisant ainsi que tous joueurs inscrits sur la liste du haut

niveau du Ministère chargé des Sports établi par la D.T.N.

CLASSEMENT “HONNEUR”

Seront classés dans cette catégorie environ 70 % des joueurs ayant marqué des points de classification l’année

précédente.

CLASSEMENT “PROMOTION”

Cette classe regroupera la grande masse des licenciés qui ne seront pas classés Elite ou Honneur

3)Enforce the rules of the International Federation in Coaching and Umpiring matters.

4)Build up in each State a strong community of players with good level to fund raise money for the Australian Community which will cover the travel of Players, Coaches and Umpires inner and outer Australia.

5)If there is no one qualified for a competition, there is no one who goes and not taking Mr or Mrs "I have plenty of money" for the only reason they can travel. That won't give a good picture of the represented State and or Country.

6)Make a team of reliable and honnest people from the top to the bottom of the hierarchy pyramid for the Good of the Petanque community.

7)Make an Exemplary Disciplinary Committee of all the crewks after the Coup d'Etat. If not, the crap will do all they can to put trouble to the good people as they have already done for the past new presidents.

Marcel said...

Well done Roger, I feel you have been very diplomatic in your story and congratulations again.

I beleive this is a wake up call to all of us who thinks that to try change would be "too hard" .

Well I am pleased to see so many people who care enough about our game to go as far as trying to get something done about changing the way the National Organisation is currently being managed.

I am from NSW .it pains and frustrate me to see so many decisions being made by Andre and his "Board" without any consultation . If you disagree with his decisions, he sends you a letter of insult,like the one Roger got.

We are working on a platform and a team to return our Petanque back to a Federation as most petanque followers in Australia want.

We are working on a new structure to make our Executives more accountable.

Roger, I am as keen as you and the other people who already commented on their disatisfaction of the current administration under Andre Deramond,to see change,I apologise to use this forum to gauge petanque players feeling for a change.

Anonymous said...

well done Rodger go for it. it is time to change to the way we were at the moment Petanque is dying and need a good surgeon to operate on it to survive.

Anonymous said...

ok

Anonymous said...

Hey MR BIG MOUTH i'ts time to go.

Anonymous said...

With all this childish politicking going back and forth it would be nice if SOMEBODY had the courtesy to lay out the facts for all licensed members as to what transpired with the W.A.players and selector in question! On the face of it it looks like bald face corruption swept under the carpet, but as we have not been privy to any official information whatsoever how can we tell? The lack of information is concerning to say the least.

Cheers

Terry Conway

Anonymous said...

Mr The King wanted to talk and to see me last week end. He told my husband if I was coming to the National, he told him after he has done he could call me as he had my details. He didn't call me neither looking at me straight in the eyes and avoid me from Friday to Sunday. That's funny about his email with the gutless topic, because he showed a lack of something ... as he didn't come to me after all he has done to me only for the badness of Petanque at least in WA.

ANGEL diaboLIQUE

Big Brother said...

It's time to go ANDRE....

Anonymous said...

The National in Perth was crap, no free water available with extreme heat ($2 a bottle), food expensive and no good, no sunscreen, shooting competition not running well with everybody having a go, an event to forget.

Anonymous said...

Money Money Money......

Anonymous said...

hey guys how about we start putting positive ideas forward and look toward the future. I think we should let bygone be bygone lets use this site to put good news. Let us hear what you can do for petanque not what petanque can do for you

Anonymous said...

For selections to be working, you need dedicated people not playing, whose only role

is to monitor the players and this in every state. We do not have the "man" power in Australia. So by just having a training squad where only one set of eyes is looking at 24 players ( male & females) is definitely NOT

going to work. Having coache's wives, fighting

for selection is another reason why the system is considered biais.

All the above arguments just prove that we only have a very small nucleus of players and

(even smaller) coaches. The system is DOOMED

Petanque used to be fun, now with selection

all that has been created is animosity between

players, thus the fun is out, friendship is out.

When one looks at who is winning the tournaments year in year out, you see the same

people over and over with very few exceptions.

So what have the "coaches: achieved? NOTHING

What has Alan Irwin achieved achieved? NOTHING

What are future coaches going to achieve? NOTHING

Anonymous said...

My suggestion for the future is in comment of the following topic:

To Select or Not to Select...

The idealist

Anonymous said...

Ongoing resignations and disputes over "rules", "law" is the face and flavour of the current governance model of PFA.

"If it smells like fish it is fish"

All members surely would appreciate that since Andre Deramond has been president six resignations have taken place at Board Level - a sign of poor and ineffective leadership.

Many Clubs have experienced non-replies to correspondence or one line meaningless replies. Other e-mails from President Andre commonly wish to place the blame at the feet of "others".

Stand up to Andre and expect a "Rule" of his coice to be found that you have supposedly breached.

Good Luck to all

Jane Jones

Honesty in Petanque.

Anonymous said...

1. Lets be fair to Alan Irwin, at least he tried and probably spent a LOT of his own money on trying to set a future for the improvement of petanque in Australia. He also resigned from frustration with PA at the time.

2. The current regime must go. 

3.ROGER FOR PRESIDENT! as he seems to have an intimate knowledge of the needs of petanque and hopefully the energy to carry it out.

YES WE CAN ROGER

 

Comments (1)

Tom van Bodegraven said

at 4:09 pm on Feb 26, 2009

Looks like Australian petanque is in a bad way. How could it go this far?

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