Peter Kagan retires from Committee
After 27+ years of being involved in the AJAX Amateur Football Club we say goodbye and thank you to our Hon Secretary Peter Kagan.
PK has been one constant reliable part of Club furniture for close to 30 years on the Committee and more than that with attending matches. Peter has decided to hand the baton over to another - we know it will be difficult shoes to fill - but the time has come! We can't thank Peter enough for everything he has given and done for the Club. At our 2024 Presentation & Best & Fairest night recently he was presented with a signed AJAX jumper from all past Presidents and Captains of the Club. I am honoured to have presented this to him and suitably, he received a standing ovation.
Read some of what was said on the night:
Pistol Pete – quick on the job, always a step or two in front of many of us, an admin wizard, joined the committee in 1998 holding many positions and for years was Secretary and Treasurer. He could have singlehandedly run the Club, (some would say he did!). He is the first to arrive at every training session, game and event and the last to leave.
Rain hail or shine his boundless enthusiasm for AJAX is incredible. He has a real twinkle in his eyes when anything AJAX is spoken of and I have seen him on occasions get so excited about a player or numbers at events that he glows. He has earned the love and respect from everyone who knows him. He loves this Club like no other and has been its longest serving volunteer & committee person.
He calls David Mandie Pavilion his home away from home and sets up an office there to do work. That’s his happy place. He lives and breathes AJAX. He has won many awards including Life Member of AJAX Senior Football Club, Maccabi Victoria Hall of Fame but I think his best awards are his daughters Sharna, Hayley, Misty, and his beautiful grandchildren, and especially his wife Denise who gives him the support and space to do what he loves. Her understanding of his need to be here is wonderful.
His photographic memory remembers every AJAX game, goal scorer, final scores, when & where the match was played, what the weather was on the day, who was reported, who should have been given best on ground, and any other statistic that matters.
He’s only missed a handful of trainings and games – either being incapacitated or putting his family first.
When I first came onto the committee end of 2019 I very quickly realised that he was the Head of Intel and I needed to gain his trust, I needed to tap into that mind and IP information. That will never happen as it’s deeper than we could ever begin to know or imagine !!!
He will be stepping down from Secretary position at this year’s AGM but he will always have a seat at the table. We would never take away the keys to the kingdom and welcome your new role as Club Mentor and Archive Academic.
Thank you to Jeremy Heffernan who worked with us on this jumper and for his photography services tonight.
This is a small token to show our love and appreciation for the many years you have given the Club. This is the #1 jumper which is signed by all living presidents & captains to date with comment from former VAFA President George Voyage who I know you call a mate.
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts and football boots for your service and being such a hugely important part of the AJAX Amateur Football Club.
We love you very much.
Alida Lipton President
AJAX Amateur Football Club Inc.