The announcement was initially greeted with a stony silence by the stunned audience but then the words “no…no…no” could be faintly heard from the members. 

Rawlinson continued: “The past three years have been the best years of my football career, but I have accepted a new coaching role and have to move on.” 

Rawlinson was clearly shaken by the moment and stumbled for words several times and was close to breaking down at one point. After guiding his Club to three consecutive premierships in both George Tooke Shield and Woodbridge Cup, Rawlinson and assistant coach Tony Worthy have decided that a new challenge is their goal. Rawlinson added: “I want to thank Binalong for what I have been offered here.”

A number of the Binalong faithful were already aware of the fact that Chris would not lead the Club in 2016, but it came as a shock to some. To add to the drama, President Michael Brayshaw announced that he and his wife Madaline would also be stepping down from their leadership roles at Binalong next year. Michael explained that neither he nor Madaline was leaving the Brahmans: “After nine years in the executive, I need time to spend more of my life with my young family and Madaline. We have thoroughly enjoyed every minute of the experience.”

The Brahmans Head Trainer for the past three years Cookie Chatfield was emotional as well, also choking on some of his words. Normally an articulate speaker, Chatfield was clearly having difficulty with the moment but recovered quickly when referring to Rawlinson’s on-field antics saying: “Arguing with the ref and getting sent-off and stuff like that, that never happened in my day!”

The presentations had almost been completed prior to these momentous announcements. The Youth League Best and Fairest was awarded to the under-18s front rower Dylan Downey and Players Player went to lock Josh Barker.

The League Tag awards were almost a clean sweep for Jersey Girl’s Captain Bron Pollack with Players-Player, Leading Point Scorer and Best and Fairest for 2015.

In First Grade, the points after 18 rounds could not be split and Andrew Swaffield and Ben Potts took the honours as joint Best & Fairest award winners. Swaffield was Best Back, Potts was Best Forward, Ben Spencer was announced as Most Consistent 2015. Mick Spencer won the Bourlet Award and Kiosk Award.

Michael and Madaline Brayshaw were conferred as Life Members on the night; the pair has been instrumental in almost all of the Brahmans successes over recent years. Jointly they have recruited players, arranged trial matches and venues, overseen the upgrades of Binalong Recreation Ground, liased with the CRL, George Tooke Shield Committee, Woodbridge Cup Committee to name a small number of representations on behalf of the Brahmans. 

Michael said: “The Rec Ground remains on my list of things to do, I won’t finish until I have it the way it should be. So I might not be President but I will still be up at the Rec.”

The Brahmans Heiffer-of-the-Year-2015 went to League Tag coach Sam Longmore, Junior Clubperson went to Jake Arabin and a special award went to Josh Sykes as a junior ball-boy for all grades. The Sports Writers’ Awards went to Marty Smith, Maddie Miller and Reuben Olah.

From this writer, I would like to express my sincere thanks to all those who have pencilled for me this past winter, my photographers Susan Meli and Jamie Williamson who have worked tirelessly, often in appalling conditions to bring readers a graphic display of what happened last Saturday. Many thanks to my wife Carol who has driven for me on some of the long road trips this year.

To my various editors, thank you for putting-up with my bad tempered moments and slow responses at times. I too have enjoyed the experience for another year, but a special thanks to the people of Binalong and the Woodbridge Cup Committee. It is truly uplifting to walk onto a ground and have people call: “How are you today Boss?” Only one place I can get that. Until 2016.... a Happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year in advance.