SAFETY first for the burgeoning teams and members of the Myall River Hawks Junior Rugby League Club in 2024, who hosted a massive Easter-themed fundraiser at the Hawks Nest Golf Club on Friday, 22 March.

With the wearing of helmets by Junior players being made compulsory by the Club as of last year, the main aim of this Easter fundraiser was to assist the players with those necessary costs.

“A lot of people’s eligibility for the NSW Government’s ‘Active and Creative Kids’ vouchers have changed this year, so we are doing what we can to help armour the kids with helmets, considering the ballooning cost of living these days,” Club Vice President Leah Saunders told NOTA.

Hawks Senior Men’s and Ladies teams turned out at the Golf Club, which is one of the Juniors’ major sponsors this year, to support their Junior Hawks, along with many of the new, and returning Juniors team members of the U-6s, U-9s, U-11s, U-13s, U-15s (girls), and U-16s teams.

“We have teams in six age-groups this year, the most we’ve ever had since the formation of the Juniors Club,” Leah added.

“More kids means more teams, and more heads needing more helmets.”

The unprecedented six teams are composed of kids coming from all around Tea Gardens/Hawks Nest, Pindimar/Bundabah, Bulahdelah, and Karuah, with interest expanding since the end of the pandemic.

“Most of the prizes tonight were donated by the parents of the six teams, and several parents have been selling tickets for the past few months along with Chantelle Gallagher, Jess Johnston and myself,” Leah added.

“We will aim to do further fundraisers on Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, and a big toy raffle at Christmas.”

By Thomas O’KEEFE