Across The Waves Football Club have carved out a proud history since their formation in 1958, having long been one of the most successful clubs in any sport in Queensland Country, always being a leader on an off the field, and winning countless Bundaberg Soccer and now Football Queensland Wide Bay (FQWB) and higher titles and honours.
The name Giovannoni has been synonymous with the glamour club since day one, with John (senior) one of the founding fathers and being always very active in the club in many capacities, his wife Merle also always heavily involved and always their most passionate and vocal supporter, and their four sons also each champions of the club as players, Tony, Danny, John, and Michael, with Tony, John and Michael and their families also serving the club with distinction as coaches, committee members, sponsors and in other ways.
John (Junior) is the longest serving playing member of the four, starting in 1974 at the age of six and continuing through to last season, apart from one year while he was working in Brisbane in 1985, and two in 2003-04 when he was working out of Sydney, always as a true champion, and wonderful role model and ambassador for the sport, including during two seasons for Waves when they were playing in the State League in 1997-98.
In September last year, he achieved something special, playing along-side his then 15-year-old younger son Tino, who made his club debut at the age of five, in Waves’ epic 4-3 victory over United Park Eagles Green in the FQWB North Division 2 Men’s Grand Final, with Tino bagging a double, and after that and a truly magnificent career, John has said that may have been his swansong
“After winning the local men’s Grand Final last season and having one of my lads, Tino playing in the side with me, I’m ready to say that’s enough,” John said.
If that is the end, what a perfect way for John to bow out after been integral to the great success he has been part of for most of the last half-century, and while he has loved all the famous victories and being part of many great teams, he shies away from the accolades.
All the major awards he has won over the years tells the story of the man and the player, but family and friends are what he holds dearest.
“Along the way there have been so many highlights, but I think the one thing that always comes to mind is that I have made so many great friendships along the way,” John said.
“I could never replace the friendships that I have made playing Football and as for the club I have been with, fortunately my parents had a big part in ATW’s beginnings, so my path was set and I had to get involved and do my part along the way.”
John’s wife Tash has also served on the Club Committee and was a good player in the Women’s League until hanging up her boots midway through last season to concentrate of other commitments.
John and Tash have two other children, Weston, 17, who also plays, and Gabriella, 11, who also proudly wore the Blue and Gold from the age of five until switching to netball last season.
“Weston will be starting UNI at the Sunshine Coast this year, so he may not play for Waves much this year,” he said.
John’s younger brother Michael has also continued his involvement in the club since retiring as a player, including serving as Assistant Coach of their Premier League Men’s team which won the Championship and went on to be crowned the Football Queensland Premier League Champions League champions.
Merle still gets out to see some of their games, but John (senior) was only able to make it to one game last season, but their great legacy continues on, also through other grand-children, and even if John (Junior) retires as a player, he will never be far away from the club he loves and breathes.
CRICKET: Oliver Boge also continued a proud family tradition when he scored his maiden Division 1 century to spearhead Brothers to a vital victory over Easts in the Rum City Foods Premiership last week.
The 17-year-old son of seven times Tallon Medalist for Bundaberg Cricket’s Best and Fairest, David, came to the crease at 2-8 in response to the Magpies’ 221 on day one of their two-day clash, and he first combined in a 138-run partnership with Toby Lamond, before he was dismissed for 74, but Oliver continued on and led them to victory before being dismissed for 100 neat.
The Brethren went on to declare at 9-302 before having Easts at 5-51 at the end of the match.
Meanwhile, Waves recorded their second straight outright victory to consolidate second position, but not before surviving a mighty scare against Norths.
Resuming in their second innings at 4-45 in their second innings, Norths toughed it out for a long while before being bundled out for 105, with captain and spinner Chris Duff bowling unchanged to finish with 5-40 from 21.5 overs.
Set 43 for maximum points, Waves crashed to 7-28, before scraping home after paceman Sam Collingwood, who got a teaching transfer this year from Townsville to Bundaberg, cut loose on club debut, claiming 6-14 in an inspired display.
Brothers will meet Waves when the one-day phase of the competition returns this Saturday, with the match doubling as the play-off for the Tallon-Giles Trophy.
DIVISION 1 scores
WAVES 10-137 & 7-45 (Sam Collingwood 10-5-14-6) d NORTHS 10-74 & 10-105 (Blyton Pendergast 32, Scott Irwin 31, Chris Duff 21.5-8-40-5, Kynan Hard 6-1-16-3) outright.
BROTHERS 9 (dec)-302 (Oliver Boge 100, Toby Lamond 74, Jeremy Haaksma 36no, d EASTS 10-221 & 5-51 (Sam Pearson 8-3-19-2).
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