Our General Manager, Rob Frost, has advised the Board that he will be retiring from the position.
Rob started in the General Manager role some 16 years ago and prior to that he was a team manager and volunteer with our Colts teams, so all up a period of close to 20 years at the Club. Those years mark some of the most tumultuous and testing times in the Club's history, but also a period of great achievement.
When Rob took over as the General Manager, the Club was in a desperate financial situation and very close to insolvency. However, in great part due to Rob's extensive business experience and expertise in managing organisations, Rob was able to assist the Board in charting a course towards financial recovery. At the same time, this was paralleled with great success on the field when the Club won a number of Shute Shields, were grand finalists on multiple occasions and were perennial semi-finalists throughout an extended period. As the famous rugby league coach Jack Gibson always said, “winning begins in the front office’’ and this has proven to be the case for Eastwood Rugby.
Rob has also been instrumental in developing the strategy for what is the necessary move from TG Millner to the North West. Rugby Australia, NSW Rugby and our peer Shute Shield Clubs have all widely recognised this strategy as crucial for the development of the game and accordingly, have been very supportive of this move. The amount of time and effort Rob has put into developing and executing this strategy cannot be overstated. This strategy will set the Club up for a long term successful future.
Rob has also been the key driver in strengthening and growing the link between our schools and junior clubs, along with the introduction of a structured Academy pathway program. The positive and productive relationships that have developed are crucial for Eastwood Rugby’s continued growth.
The other Shute Shield Clubs, the Sydney Rugby Union, the NSW Rugby Union along with the Eastwood Board, have recognised Rob as one of the most astute and high performing General Managers in the Shute Shield competition. Eastwood Rugby has been very fortunate indeed to have someone of his calibre at the helm for such an extended period.
Thankfully, Rob will not be lost to the Club. As well as working with our incoming General Manager, he will continue to be responsible for the relocation project and of course he will be coming to games and watching the Woods go round as he has for the past 60 odd years.
The Board will be advertising the position of General Manager in coming months.
Rob Cusack
Chairman Eastwood Rugby
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