A Message from our Patron: Luke Brailey

8 July 2022

Dear Friends,

It has been a privilege and an honour to represent the peak body for advocating the preservation and restoration of Belmore Sports Ground as their Patron since July 2017. I am deeply thankful to the executive committee for re-nominating me and giving me the opportunity to once again serve Back to Belmore in this important role as the organisation's emissary for the next five years.

Belmore Sports Ground is the most beautiful sporting facility in the world. I will continue to build strong relations with all our key stakeholders – especially the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, The Hon. Tony Burke MP, The Hon. Sophie Cotsis MP, The Hon. Jihad Dib MP & the City of Canterbury Bankstown – and work for the betterment of this historic venue as a top-class sporting facility and the community at large through engagement, support and advocacy. I particularly look forward to continuing to work closely with Bulldogs Chairman John Khoury and Chief Executive Aaron Warburton to ensure the continued success of our important nexus with Belmore Sports Ground's primary occupant and leaseholder.

I would also like to pay special tribute to John's predecessor Lynne Anderson for her pivotal role in laying the groundwork in February 2018 to rebuild and reestablish the relationship between the Bulldogs and Back to Belmore on a new and deeper basis, following four years of regrettably strained relations. This has provided a solid foundation for our organisation to work in a collaborative and cohesive manner with John and Aaron at Canterbury going forward to achieve a shared goal.

The Bulldogs and Back to Belmore have been steadfast partners over the past four-and-a-half years and I am excited about broadening our collaboration and deepening our ties in the months and years ahead. Back to Belmore is keen to engage with all project partners in a spirit of consensus to chart a path forward for Belmore Sports Ground to be safeguarded for future generations of sports players. We now have over 13,000 email subscribers (including more than 500 Bulldogs voting members) and over 12,500 followers on our Facebook page which allows us to increase our reach and exposure to more stakeholders who care deeply about the future of this amazing facility. I look forward to what we can achieve together.

Many Thanks.

Yours in Belmore,

Luke R. Brailey