Cobras see the light

Lights were switched on at the Cora Lynn Recreation Reserve recently, but it wasn’t so long ago that the local football and netball club were stuck in the dark.
A five point plan has led to brighter, and better times, as PETER SWEENEY reports.
CORA Lynn has played off in the last five finals series – including the past three senior grand finals for one premiership – in the Ellinbank and District Football League.
In that time, its reserves side has won two flags.
Still, Andrew Bergmeier doesn’t sit still, his mind doesn’t rest.
The president of the club vividly recalls the past and says he “doesn’t want this great club to ever go back to that dark place again”.
“This has meant that more than ever, the capacity of our club has to constantly get deeper so we can avoid the bad times and plan for success,” Bergmeier said.
The Cobras were struggling financially and football wise when Bergmeier took over the reins a decade ago.
On the field, it was mainly boys trying to do the job of men. They gave 100 per cent, but were in the deficit in the physical and skill departments.
One day Terry Dillon, who has since played a significant role in the rejuvenation of the Cobras, told Bergmeier it was the worst Cora Lynn side he had seen.
The pair spoke about what came first: success on – or off – the field.
When he became president, Bergmeier knew the club needed a clear focus on what it stood for – and how it expected people to behave.
“We developed a business plan with one major value, respect. And we developed a series of behaviour statements around this value,” Bergmeier said.
“We developed clear role statements and organisational efficacy to produce our desired effect.”
These days, Bergmeier, who doesn’t involve himself in football matters unless invited by the senior coach to address the players, regards on-field success as “a given”.
Now that they have survived, Cora Lynn are working on sustainability.
“At this stage, we are over halfway there – but we are constantly mindful of the precarious line we tread when dealing with volunteers and the many others who walk through the door,” Bergmeier said.
And the five point plan?
Well, it’s overcoming remoteness and isolation, generating revenue – looking outside the square, creating pathways, promoting a family values club atmosphere and welcoming and valuing people – positive relationships.
“We are globally focused because we do not have enough local resources with either people or business that we can count on to be sustainable,” Bergmeier said.
“The few people we do have at Cora Lynn work their hearts out to ensure the football and netball clubs have the best facilities.
“To generate awareness of our situation, we have a substantial email list, where we provide information with club news.
“Our piece de resistance has been our bus – and we are now on our second bus.
“We have gone from three major sources of revenue – gate, bar and canteen – to 10 sources. Our Pakenham race day and car show day are at the bookends of the season.”
Bergmeier said the difficult dream of creating a permanent source of playing personnel has finally gained a foothold in Pakenham.
“This is due to the hard work of a team of people. We have created an under-11s team and a under-9 team playing at Pakenham Upper Reserve,” Bergmeier said.
“A family value based club in a traditional male, boozy atmosphere has always been one of our biggest challenges.
“I am not a wowser … but I understand the importance of promoting family values.
“We have become a Good Sports club and have changed some traditional fundraisers that concentrated on alcohol. In terms of revenue, they have been more successful.
“Because of the safety aspect and the message it provides to the community, the bus has obviously helped.
“It has been hard to convince some of supporters that it is not okay to sledge umpires or make personal remarks to opposition players. We encourage other clubs to approach us if they identify our supporters if they are out of line.”
And finally, there are the three Rs … relationships, relationships, relationships.
“The term positive relationships means different things to different people,” Bergmeier said.
“In a marriage, positive relationships often mean you are prepared to give and take with each other, developing a very strong bond,” he said.
“The bond is often so strong that in long term relationships, the statistics show it is quite common for the partner who has been left behind, to die within a year of his/her long time partner.
“This happened with my parents and you would have similar stories.
“We (Cora Lynn) don’t take anyone for granted, because we rely on them too much.
“As the principal of a large school in Cranbourne, I call it the three Rs … and in our club, it is far more than what the three Rs traditionally represent.
“We welcome new faces, we look after old faces.
“We can’t afford to do anything else. People are our most valuable asset.”