IT’S hard to believe, but yet again we have come to the end of another year. As we look back over the last 12 months, I think we should do so with a real sense of pride and accomplishment in what we have achieved during our most successful year to date.

The continuing success of the Indigenous Employment and Careers Expos and the ARTIE program has been greatly encouraging, and we are planning to build on those successes again next year.

Next year is an important one for the FOGS and the work that we are doing, with one of our government contracts due to expire at the end of 2011.

We will be working hard to get a few more submissions into the government to shore up the future of the FOGS, and also continue the remarkable success that we have achieved with our programs so far.

Some of the results we have been getting from the Expos have been extraordinary, and I think just based on those results, we are in a good position to push for an extension of our contract to keep the Expos rolling out.

The Hon Mark Arbib is now the Minister for Sport and the Minister for Indigenous Employment and Economic Development in the Gillard government, meaning his portfolio goes hand-in-hand with the work FOGS is doing.

So it was very pleasing that when Mr Arbib was in Brisbane recently launching the Broncos’ mentoring program, he described the FOGS as the leaders in that line of work.

It was fantastic feedback from the Minister, and hopefully we will be able to continue our terrific relationship with him and the government beyond next year.

Also continuing our growth, I am very pleased to welcome Andrew Gee as the latest member of the FOGS board.

Andrew is obviously a very knowledgeable and respected rugby league administrator, and his appointment not only strengthens our board, but also strengthens ties with the Broncos as well.

THE FOGS also recently – albeit inadvertently – made a few headlines over a perceived spat with our southern equivalent, the New South Wales Origin Legends over the use of the FOGS name.

I just want to make it quite clear that we went out of our way to help them get themselves established. I have been the one at the end of the phone for them for the last two years.

We had a meeting here with Max Krilich and Steve Stanton telling them that we didn’t want them using the FOGS name until they had got themselves established and got a few runs on the board.

They left the meeting quite happy with that. But then they got back to Sydney and decided to use the newspapers to blow the whole matter right out of proportion.

In all honesty, I personally and the FOGS as an organization have done everything we possibly can for them. We have done the hard yards up here, establishing the FOGS name, and building our credibility, which has now grown to the stage where we are working with the state and Federal governments on a range of programs.

It was important for us to keep that credibility, and we didn’t need anyone riding on that or undoing the hard work that had been done because they did not have all their pieces in place.That was my opinion and the opinion of the board of directors, too. Now they have their own identity, they can concentrate on getting down to work. We wish them every success.

Finally, to all our members, sponsors, supporters, fans and friends, a very Merry Christmas, and a safe and happy new year. I’ll see you all in 2011.

GENE MILES

EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN