By DAVID NAGEL
PLANNING for the future and moving with the times, that’s the ROC Football Club’s intention as it proceeds towards a name change ahead of the 2016 South East Football Netball League season.
ROC has been around since 1977, when the Rythdale-Cardinia Football Club, and the Officer Football Club joined forces to become Rythdale-Officer-Cardinia. But, with the ever-changing demographics of one of the fastest growing towns in the south east, the club has announced to its members that they will be required to vote on a name-change, to the Officer Football Club, trading as the Officer-ROC Football Club, at a special meeting to be held on Thursday 20 August.
Club president Barry O’Loughlin said the club had been in discussions on the issue for over 18 months, and the time was right to make a change. He said the decision was based on improving the club’s identity, and brand awareness, but it was also at the forefront of discussions to preserve the club’s long and proud heritage.
“We’re desperate to maintain that link to the past, we really want to keep that history still going, but this is all about trying to catch up with the times,” O’Loughlin said.
“It’s part of our strategic plan to try and improve our brand awareness, so sponsors can identify with who we are and the area that we represent.
“People from outside the area struggle to identify with the name ROC, and that’s something that we’ve really needed to take on board.”
O’Loughlin said only financial members, and life members of the club, will be permitted to vote.
The Officer Kangaroos Junior Football Club will remain as it is, while the netball club, which is registered as the ROC Netball Club, will remain as such for the time being.
ROC Netball Club Secretary Bec Luxford said the netballers were right behind their footballing counterparts, but won’t be involved in the initial voting.
“We’re fully supportive of the name change, it makes sense, but we’re just not pushing it as quickly as the football club,” Luxford said.
“It’s certainly on our agenda to discuss at our next committee meeting in August.”
