Bears look for better times
Former club head back on deck for 2019
People like to be around to share in the good times.
They are not so plentiful when the going begins to get a little tough.
But there is always someone, just like Charlie Martin, willing to step up if another helping hand can help weather those barren times.
Martin has been associated with Toowoomba Bears Rugby Club in various roles for almost 15 years.
He has experienced the club’s highs, including its 2008 and 2010 Risdon Cup wins, and has lived through its leaner years — some of which it’s experiencing now.
Martin took on the club presidency from 2005 to 2010 and stepped up to the position again in 2013.
But in between time he never ventured far from the Bears’ den.
More recently Martin has been a regular Bears’ game spectator with his sideline presence made the more obvious by the shrinking band of fellow supporters.
People like to be around to share in the good times.
Martin yearns for better times ahead for his club.
But it won’t happen by accident and this year he has again joined the club’s leadership team, hoping some of his experience can help shore up the club’s proud standing in Darling Downs rugby.
“I started out with Bears in around 2005,” Martin recalled this week.
“My association started through a mate of mine, Russell Jackson, who has been a good club man and has his son Will playing for Bears now.
“I was helping initially with a bit of coaching, managing, bus driving and those sort of jobs.
“The club was lacking a little in numbers then — like now — and was looking for a bit of new direction.
“I took on the presidency and did it until 2010.
“I came back a few years later and took over from Hugh (Rose) for another stint.
“There were some good times for the club during that era.
“We were originally Aubigny and then Toowoomba City and eventually Toowoomba Bears.
“We won our first Risdon Cup in 2008 and did it again in 2010.
“The club had a pretty good run from 2007 until three or four years ago.
“But we have always been competitive.
“Every year, bar a couple, we’ve made the finals and for quite a few years in a row we made the grand final.
“A lot of our success was during Evan Willis’s time as coach.
“Evan was fairly disciplined and a good communicator.”
Martin shies away from the term “team culture” but is keen to help make rugby and club involvement a rewarding and enjoyable experience.
“To me rugby is about camaraderie and mateship,” Martin said.
“It was suggested to me at a recent 10-year club anniversary to have another go at the presidency so I’ve decided to give it another go for this year.
“I just want to see the club be strong again by helping out where I can.
“I’m retired with a bit of time on my hands to help get some structures going.
“There are a lot more people than me with the same aim and are working hard to help achieve it.
“Some good people have stepped up.
“One of the most positive things with our club is it’s now under the one banner of seniors, teenagers and juniors.
“Bryan Battersby has stuck loyally to the coaching job and it’s great to see Mick Jarroush working alongside him this year.
“I’m sure that’s a big plus for us.
“We’ve had some great players come through the club over the years and they will come again.
“Our senior numbers have fallen down a little now, but that’s a sign of the times in a lot of sports, particularly in country centres.
“There are any number of reasons why that’s happening but work has a lot to do with that these days.
“It’s good to see though our junior and teenage numbers are strong.
“We’ve got another young side this year with a bit of experience and I think we can put together a competitive A-grade side.”