It is with considerable regret that the Board of Directors has accepted Tim Kelaher’s resignation as a Director of The Rugby Club Foundation due to his family and business commitments.

Tim has been a Rugby Life member of The Rugby Club since January 2002. He was initially appointed as a Director in October 2002 and served until February 2004, when he resigned due to his career commitments. He was again elected to the Board in June 2012 and during his time as a Director he has sat on the Operations and Marketing Committee and the Membership and Rugby Relations Committee. Tim was elected as Treasurer of The Rugby Club at the 2015 Annual General Meeting.

A former Wallaby fullback, Tim Kelaher made his debut in the 1992 Bledisloe Cup win over the All Blacks, adding another Test cap against Ireland that same year and a third against the All Blacks the following season. In a five-year career with the NSW Waratahs, he represented his state on 29 occasions between 1992 and 1996, scoring 102 points and playing in every position from 12 to 15.

An Old Boy of St Joseph’s College, Tim’s 24-year playing career spanned the amateur and professional eras encompassing all levels of Rugby, namely Schoolboy [St Joseph’s College 1st XV (1988-1989), GPS 1st XV, NSW Schoolboys 1st XV and Australian Schoolboys (1989)], Premiership [Eastwood 1st Grade, Randwick 2nd and 1st Grade (1991–1996) and Sydney University 1st Grade (1997-1999)], Country [NSW Country (1992-1995), Narrabri Blue Boars, Central North NSW Country Rugby (2005-2010)], Sevens [Australian Hong Kong 7s representative (1992)], State [NSW Under 21s and NSW Waratahs (1992-1996)], International [Emerging Wallabies (1990), Wallabies (1992-1993)] and Classics [Classic Wallabies (2010-2011)] Rugby.

Tim joined the HSBC Waratahs in May 2013 in the newly-created role of Chief Scout. Underlining the HSBC Waratahs’ commitment to the long-term development of home-grown talent, Tim was responsible for implementing and overseeing a state-wide recruitment network that will target the most talented players from across NSW, from the age of 16 upwards.

Born and bred in the Central Coast, Tim completed a Master of Business Administration at Macquarie Graduate School of Management in 2001.

Having previously held sales and marketing positions in tier one medical device companies, including Stryker and Biomet, Tim is currently National Sales and Marketing Manager at Orthocell, a cell therapy company specialising in the repair of cartilage and tendon injuries.

When announcing his resignation from the Board Tim tabled the following letter of resignation at a meeting of the Board:

“It is with a touch of sadness that I am informing you all today that I am resigning my position as a Board member and Treasurer of The Rugby Club Foundation.

It has been a pleasure and indeed, an honour, to serve the membership of the Club over the past six or so years. I have come to this decision so that I can focus on my children, who are all now in high school, and my work.

It has been an honour to serve on the Board and hope that my contribution has been valuable. I believe that the Club is now in one of the healthiest financial positions it has ever been – and this I am sure will deliver significant benefit to amateur rugby for many years to come. I look forward to seeing this. I have always endeavoured to act in a way that is respectful of the history of the Club and those that contributed to the Club before us.

I want to thank you all, particularly Angus and Peter, for all your support and friendship whilst I have been on the Board. I want to wish the Club and all of you every success in the future. I know it is in good hands.”

It is indeed significant that Tim has been a member of the Board during the entire period when many of the defining decisions were being made in relation to the sale of the Club’s property, the formulation and implementation of the new strategic vision of “Sharing the Spirit of the Game” and the establishment of The Rugby Club Foundation.

Furthermore, Tim has always embodied an intense passion for the ethos and traditions of the game of Rugby which we all love so much. His fellow Directors believe that all Members will join with them in thanking Tim for his invaluable contribution to the wellbeing of the Club and in wishing him and his family all possible happiness and success in the future.

ANGUS J BRUXNER
President

PETER WHITTINGTON
Vice President