Endeavour Hills Rugby Union Club had success at the recent Victorian awards night with Lewis Leaumoana announced as the under 19 state player of the year, Georgina Brown the junior administrator of the year and Stephen Tia winning a distinguished service award. ENDEAVOUR Hills Rugby Union Club’s season has ended, but the wins keep coming.
At the recent annual Victorian Rugby Union Awards night, Hills members received five prestigious awards. These were to Lewis Leaumoana, under-19 State player of the year; Georgina Brown, junior administrator of the year; Archie Kennedy, coach of the year and distinguished service award and Stephen Tia, distinguished service award.
To cap off the awards, the club came third in the club championship.
Lewis Leaumoana has been a Hills junior, having played in various State representative teams. This year he has played with both the Colts and A-grade sides. His award recognises his devotion to the game and his hard work.
Georginia Brown was praised for an excellent job as junior administrator for the club, as Endeavour Hills has one of the largest number of junior players in Victoria.
For the past two seasons Georgina has been the foundation upon which Endeavour Hills juniors have grown. She even took over the canteen management half way through this season.
Archie Kennedy started as a player with Endeavour Hills in 1988, retiring in 1992.
He coached an under-eights in 1991, which he grew up with through premierships in under-12s in 1994, under-14s in 1995 and 1996 and teamed with Steve Tia to coach the same team as under- 16s to premierships in 1997 and 1998. In 1997 he also took over the Endeavour Hills A-grade side, leading to a finals showing in 1997 and a premiership in 1998
Archie also teamed with Steve Tia to coach the State under-16s from 1999 to 2001, helping elevate the image of Victorian Rugby on the national stage.
He took on the State under-19s in 2002, before accepting the coach’s position with the Axemen from 2003 to 2006, elevating the team to finish second in the competition this year.
During this time Archie has stayed at the club, coaching, management and general manual labourer. He has lent his assistance to the VRU whenever possible.
He completed a level-three coaching accreditation and helped direct the careers of players from club to national status.
Steve Tia was a tenacious competitor who played for Harlequins, Box Hill, finally finishing his playing career at Endeavour Hills in 1994 and 1995. He officially teamed with Archie Kennedy to coach the Endeavour Hills under-16s in 1997 and 1998.
The team of Kennedy and Tia then took over the State under-16s in 1999, raising its profile at the National under-16s tournament.
In 2002 Steve took on the State women’s team, taking it to second place in the national tournament in 2003 and 2006.
In 2006 he also contributed to the State under-20’s squad.
Over the past decade Steve has also contributed to nearly every major rugby tournament, finals series, event and test match, including the 2003 World Cup and the 2006 Commonwealth Games.
At club level, apart from his appointed coaching roles, he has been director of coaching at Endeavour Hills for the past three years and provides invaluable assistance to all grades.
