with Chris Karas
Balmain Tigers 100 Years at Birchgrove Oval
BALMAIN Junior Rugby League was the first Junior League formed in Australia and members celebrated its 100th birthday last Sunday at Birchgrove Oval.
Former Tigers legends and Junior League stalwarts assembled at the ground to celebrate the milestone with Jim Fraser, son of Tigers’ all time great Charles ‘Chook’ Fraser, officially kicking off the 2008 season.
Jim is pictured front with Codocks legend Jim Fitzgibbon (seated) and fellow Tigers’ junior products Sid Ryan, Geoff Starling, Merv Muggleton, Frank Ragen, Mike Marketo, Peter Duffy, Kevin Hardwick, John Owens, Garry Mara, Graham Pearce, Bobby Mara, 1969 Grand Final stars Keith Outten and John Spencer, Hilton Kidd, John Stanton.
Also pictued Junior League patron Mick Manning, ex-Junior League secretaries Bob Carroll and Paul Egan; former presidents Austin Hoyle, Billy Wise and Bob Henderson; stalwarts Geoff Large, John Carrington, Darcy Lawler, Frank Borg, Allan Barber, Ron White, Brian Coleman, Kevin Fraser - grandson of ‘Chook’ Fraser; Balmain-Ryde Eastwood coach Paul Fletcher; Wests legendary forward and Holy Cross coach Bill Owens; Balmain Football Club chairman David Trodden and Tigers’ CEO Tim Camiller with TWT Sports Editor and BJL life member Chris Karas.
Souths Juniors, who turned 100 on Monday, will hold a joint celebration barbecue with Balmain Juniors on Saturday April 26 at Erskineville Bowling Club at 2pm. TWT on-the-spot PHOTO.
Proud Jim kicks off BJL Centenary
JIM Fraser - 83 year old son of former Tigers’ and Kangaroo rugby league great Charles ‘Chook’ Fraser - marks the Balmain Junior League’s 100th birthday last Sunday by officially kicking off the 2008 season at Birchgrove Oval.
Ryde resident Jim, an ex-Tigers lower grade half back, is flanked by premiership-winning Balmain forward Sid Ryan - the Tigers’ oldest living player- and former Balmain Test centre Geoff Starling with Mini League players from the Leichhardt Juniors and Concord-Burwood Wolves in background. Balmain Junior League - the first Junior League formed in Australia - celebrated the milestone with Souths Juniors, who turned 100 on Monday. ‘Chook’ Fraser played in the premiership-winning Balmain Iona team in 1910 before carving out an illustrious career with the Tigers and Australia. He was the first Balmain junior to represent the Kangaroos in 1911. Just like his famous dad, a proud Jimmy displayed his kicking skills to the cheers of family and friends in attendance. TWT on-the-spot PHOTO by Michael Haylen 9808-2145.
Phoenix win Games
RYDE X Phoenix Bowling Club captured the gold medal at this year’s Ryde Sports Foundation Games mens lawn bowls competition hosted by Denistone East Bowling Club last week.
Denistone Sports Club collected the silver medal. RSF chairman Jim Hull and deputy chairman Clr Edna Wilde presented medals to the winners and runners up. Pictured are participating bowlers Ron Court (Denistone East); Col Simpson (Brush Park); Les Burgett, Alwyn Long, Al Peters (Putney-Tennyson); Dick Wells, Derek Wyatt, Maurie Slade (Ryde Eastwood), Noel Whatmore (Denistone Sports); Barry Richards (Ryde City); Tony Hyem (Gladesville Sporties) and Matt Dodini (Ryde X Phoenix). TWT on-the-spot PHOTO.
Hawks win Community Bank Trophy
NORTH Ryde Hawks opened their Jubilee season in the Balmain Junior League in style last Sunday by winning the 3rd annual North Ryde Bendigo Community Bank Challenge against Holy Cross at E L S Hall Sportsground.
Hawks’ president Brian Johnston is pictured receiving the Ted Clarke Shield from Holy Cross Rhinos president Stuart Stanton. Also pictured are Hawks patron and Tigers’ personality Ron Ryan, leading junior coach Jason Tutt, North Ryde RSL Community Club president Barry Herbert (representing Hawks major sponsors), Rhinos’ secretary Chris Woods, North Ryde junior and Wests Tigers U/20 forward Dean Webster and Todd Nosti with local junior players. Holy Cross won the Legends touch clash 1-0 via a Grant Wheelhouse try. TWT on-the-spot PHOTO.
Nostalgic event at Birchgrove
BALMAIN and Western Suburbs rugby league teams are preparing for a trip down memory lane when they meet in an historic NSW State Cup clash at Birchgrove Oval on Sunday April 20.
The Tigers and Magpies will relive history during a Special Community Event to mark the centenary of the first ever NSWRL premiership match staged at the “spiritual home of rugby league.”
It was back on Easter Monday April 20, 1908 that foundation clubs Balmain and Western Suburbs participated in the first-ever top grade rugby league match in Australia at Birchgrove with the Watersiders recording a 24-0 victory.
Balmain’s line up that day was Joe Regent, George Wilcox, G Fitzpatrick, A Walker, Alf Latta, Tommy O’Donnell, A Bryant, Joe Appoloney, Ted McFadden, W Fisher, Alf Dobbs, A Ward and Bob Graves (captain).
Western Suburbs’ team was: George Duffin, C Blake, B Duggan, T Phelan, P Franks, R Gormley, L Gormley, Jim Abercrombie, T Mount, Jim Stack (captain), Ted ‘Mousie’ Mead, Bill Elliott, A Brown, Claude McFayden.
Paul Fletcher’s Balmain-Ryde Eastwood team and Leo Epifania’s Magpies now get a chance to turn back the clock in Australian rugby league’s Centenary Year.
Former Balmain and Western Suburbs players will attend the Special Community Event which is being billed as a Family Day - starting at 9am with kids activities, face painting, jumping castle and merchandise with State Cup fixture to kick off at 10am.
At the conclusion of the medal and trophy presentations, the match balls will be handed to the oldest living player from Balmain, Sid Ryan, and the oldest living Wests player Bill Keato for the start of the Wests Tigers Ball Relay from 12 noon to the SCG. 86 year old Ryan, a punishing forward who still resides in Tigers territory at Marsfield, played 104 matches for Balmain and was a member of the club’s premiership-winning teams of 1944 and 1947.
He was a local Balmain junior who played with Birchgrove Olympics in the Balmain Junior League and figured in the Tigers’ 1940 Presidents Cup-winning side.
A keen sailor, Ryan sailed in the “Jean” skippered by the great Charles ‘Chook’ Fraser and son Jim Fraser that performed strongly in the NSW 18ft Sailing League.
Keato, a goalkicking fullback and great clubman, is the Magpies greatest points-scorer with 772 points.
In “Olympic Relay” style fashion the match balls will be passed over 12 legs by more than 100 rugby league greats via countless historical sites reaching the SCG in time for the kick off between Wests Tigers and South Sydney at 3pm.
These same balls will be used in the NRL match, further linking the history of the game to the founding clubs of rugby league. Balmain Tigers Ambassadors Keith Barnes, Larry Corowa, Benny Elias, Mark O’Neill, Sid Ryan, Darren Senter, Paul Sironen and Wayne Pearce will also be at Birchgrove along with Wests legends Keith Holman, Arthur Summons, Noel Kelly, Harry Wells, John Hayes, Bill Owens, Jack Thompson, Carl Ross, Tim Murphy and Barry Glasgow.
State Cup thriller
RYAN CUNNINGHAM reports that Canterbury downed Balmain-Ryde Eastwood 32-20 at the Crest Stadium last Saturday in arguably the most exciting NSW Cup fixture of the season to date.
From the starting whistle both teams brought ferocity in defence and attack. The Bulldogs led 6-0 before Tigers’ hooker Lewis Brown offloaded to a charging Ryan Tandy, who crossed to level the scores.
Centre Miguel Start was a powerhouse as he continually smashed the ball out of Bulldogs players’ arms.
Brown then slipped a great ball to fullback Gavin Cowen, who angled in through the Bulldogs defence to score for a 10-6 lead.
Canterbury regained the lead with a try before Tigers skipper Lee Bennett pounced to score a four pointer but the lead was shortlived after Bulldogs fullback Brent Crisp scooted 50 metres to score and put his side ahead 18-14 at the break.
Balmain half Mick Moran combined with Bennett to give their side a 20-18 lead from a clever kick after the interval before the Bulldogs capitalised on Tigers’ errors to score three tries and seal victory.
Tigers coach Paul Fletcher described his team’s effort as “frustrating.”
“Our boys couldn’t grasp the importance of holding the lead - after each try the pressure dropped which was disheartening. The structure was a lot better but we can’t afford to make those open line mistakes.”
Photo by Ryan Cunningham
Tigers take a tumble
WESTS Tigers rugby league coach Tim Sheens refuses to press the panic button after watching his charges crash to successive NRL defeats over the past fortnight.
The injury-stricken Tigers - minus the services of big guns Robbie Farah, Benji Marshall, Dene Halatau, Ryan O’Hara, Matthew Head, Bryce Gibbs and Dean Collis - were no match for a physical Penrith side who posted a 30-8 victory on Monday night in slippery conditions at Campbelltown Stadium.
After a promising start to the 2008 premiership with victories over St George-Illawarra and North Queensland, the Tigers have turned in lacklustre displays against the Bulldogs and Panthers that have resulted in heavy losses.
Coach Sheens is looking for an improved showing against Canberra this Sunday at Canberra Stadium.
The loss to Penrith in first grade and U/20 Youth Cup (42-14) capped a bleak weekend for Tigers teams with Balmain-Ryde East-wood suffering a 32-20 defeat at the hands of Canterbury and Balmain Harold Matthews Cup (24-20) and S.G Ball squads (24-16) humbled by Manly at Leichhardt Oval.
Cubs to shine were lock Brodie Monroe (Matthews Cup) and forwards Matt Hyland and Aaron Woods (S.G Ball Cup).
ROBBIE FARAH - sorely missed against Panthers
MP McKew launches 2008 ERNA season
BENNELONG MP Maxine McKew officially launched the Eastwood Ryde Netball Association’s 2008 season last Saturday - by shooting the first goal at Meadowbank Park Courts.
Maxine was joined by Ryde City Deputy Mayor Sarkis Yedelian and sponsors Joe Watson from Holmans Retravision Eastwood, Paul Moujalli from Ryde Eastwood Leagues Club, Cathy Spiller from Cooper Sports and Lyn Clark Duff from LCD & Co Financial Solutions.
ERNA look forward to a great season with their 3,500 players playing at Meadowbank Park and Brush Farm on Saturdays from April to September.
Last Sunday, ERNA hosted a NSW District Carnival with 30 Associations competing in age groups from 11-15 years.
Eastwood Ryde won two championship divisions - the U/14 Div 1 and U/15 age groups. The event was good preparation for this year’s State Age Championships to be held on July 5-6-7 in Maitland.
Winners were: 11 Years Gold: Randwick White; runner up Hills Gold; Silver: Randwick Green; joint runners up Hills Brown & Norths Black; 12 Years Div 1: Fairfield; runners up Gosford; Div 2: Penrith; runners up Baulkham Hills; 13 years Div 1: Blacktown; runners up Manly; Div 2: Port Stephens; runners up Blacktown; 14 years Div 1: Eastwood Ryde; runners up Randwick; Div 2: Gosford; runners up Blacktown; 15 years: Eastwood Ryde; runners up Gosford.
PICTURED above is the West Ryde Rovers Under 11/1 team that won the Gold 11 yrs age group at the recent ERNA Gala Day l to r Jordan Ferguson, Nicola Fiore, Hannah Luke-Paddon, Georgia Mirabito, Paulina Ballas, Aimee Harvey, Logan Glasson and Nikki Deed. Absent Veronica Jukic.
Holy Cross Soccer
U/6 Green B: Holy Cross 12 (J Webb 5, C Belcastro 4, L Nadile 2, E Fraser) Putney Rangers 3; Yellow: Ravens 6 Holy Cross 5 (J Cavaleri 3, E Fraser 2); Red: Ravens 8 Holy Cross 3 (M Riley 3); White: Putney Rangers 7 Holy Cross 0; U/7 Green: Holy Cross 2 (W Morris 2) Gladesville Sharks 2; Yellow: Eastwood St Andrews 8 Holy Cross 2 (A Clark, C Elliott); Red: Holy Cross 13 (C Necovoski 3, D Coary 3, J Zammit 3, J Murdocca 2, D Dwyer, R Nelson) All Saints Hunters Hill 1; U/8 Green: Thornleigh Sports 6 Holy Cross 2 (H Nicol, R Van Drunen); 9/4: Holy Cross 2 (M Zdilar, C Crimmins) Carlingford Redbacks 0; 9/6: Holy Cross 1 (R Suter) St Andrews 0; 10/3: Holy Cross 7 (B Sciancalepore 4, R Ou, R Coary, R Morfuni) Nth Epping Rangers 0; 11/6: Holy Cross 6 (P Abi-Saab 3, A Karjalainen 2, A Mrsnik) Roselea 1; 12/2: St Andrews 3 Holy Cross 1 (I Deklerk); 15/2: Roselea 4 Holy Cross 2 (A Coluccio, D O’Brien); 16/4: Holy Cross 4 (P Khzouz 2, V Kalpakian, S Papadopoulos) St Andrews 0; 21/2: Holy Cross 2 (E Khzouz 2) West Ryde Rovers 0; AA4: Holy Cross 7 (M Nati 5, D Fonte, M Mazza) Normanhurst 0; AA5: Holy Cross 6 (V Vujasinovic 3, S Domingues, M Canone, B Louka) Ryde District 2; AA8: Holy Cross 5 (R Harris 2, R Kennefich, D Armstrong, B Cook) Ravens 1; AA10: St Andrews 6 Holy Cross 4 (R Parkes, M Payne, R O’Donahue, M Waygood); AA12: Macquarie Combined Sports 5 Holy Cross 2 (T Lowe, T Sone); AA13: Holy Cross 3 (D Jovanovi, A Intili, B Cleal) All Saints 0; AA17: Holy Cross 1 (H Juhasz) Glenhaven 1; O35/5: All Saints 3 Holy Cross 2.
Ravens Soccer
U/6 Koala Yellow Division: Ravens 6 (Thomas Lockie 4, William Boys 2) Holy Cross 5; Red Division A: Ravens 8 (Calvin Drury 3, Luke Saleh 3, George Kriezis 2) All Saints Hunters Hill 3; U/7 Green: Ravens 1 Macquarie Dragons 0; Yellow Division: Macquarie Dragons 4 Ravens 1 (Matthew Pittman); Red Division A: Ryde District 3 Ravens 2; U/8 Green: Beecroft 4 Ravens 1 (Jack Staley); Orange Division: Ravens 3 (Emily Ranieri, Sepehr Shafazand, Peter Maniatis) West Pennant Hills B 1.
Mixed Bowls
Concord RSL Mens & Womens Bowling Clubs are starting up a new Sunday Afternoon Mixed Bowls Game starting April 13 at 2pm - playing 16 ends and finishing around 4.15 pm.
New & casual bowlers most welcome. Dress is mufti (casual) but flat soled shoes are essential. Free coaching available. The Club is located on the corner Nirranda Street & Nullawarra Ave Concord West. Inquiries John Younie 9747 4500, John Brownhill 8765 8050, Eric Tait 9743 0121 or John Pomroy 9743 4990.
NETBALL ROUNDUP
10/1: West Ryde Rovers (33) 16 Carlingford Flames (19) 4; North Ryde RSL Youth (17) 13 NRSLYC (18) 7; Dundas United (22) 9 Dundas United (21) 6; 10/2: Ravens (19) 4 Rovers (34) 4; Dundas Central (6) 5 North Ryde Spirits (14) 3; OLQP (4) 11 Flames (20) 7; 10/3: St Kevins (4) 10 Dundas Central (7) 3; Villa Maria (4) 18 Rovers (35) 0; Flames (21) 5 NR Spirits (15) 4; 10/4: Marsfield Bluebelles (9) 7 Eagles (5) 5; Villa Maria (5) 1 Ryde RSL Robbins (11) 0; Dundas United (23) 7 St Kevins (5) 0; 11/1: Flames (17) 21 St Kevins (21) 6; St Gerards (7) 27 Alexanders (13) 5; Dundas Central (5) 11 NR Spirits (10) 9; 11/2: Dundas United (20) 17 Rovers (32) 15; Ryde RSL Robbins (8) 12 Ryde RSL (7) 6; Ravens (15) 16 Bluebelles (8) 7; NR Spirits (11) 16 NRSLYC (14) 14; 11/3: Ryde RSL (9) 26 Flames (18) 2; Ravens (16) 16 Ravens (17)5; NR Spirits (12) 13 NRRSLYC (15) 11; OLQP (2) 11 OLQP (3) 10; 11/4: Villa Maria (3) 8 Ravens (18) 6; YMCA (11) 31 NRSLYC (16) 1; St Kevins (3) 10 Santa Sabina (25) 1; 12/1: Flames (15) 12 Flames (14) 11; St Gerards (5) 35 NRSLYC (11) 9; Rovers (28) 15 Santa Sabina (22) 13; 12/2: Dundas Central (4) 13 NR Spirits (8) 4; NRRSLYC (13) 21 NRRSL (12) 11; MD Saints (3) 20 WR Rovers (29) 11; Dundas United (19) 18 OLQP 6; 12/3: Ryde RSL (6) 9 Ryde Ladybirds (9) 8; Flames (16) 15 Rovers (30) 3; Ravens (14) 29 St Gerards (6) 14; Villa Maria (2) 36 Villa Maria (1) 14; 12/4: St Kevins 20 NR Spirits (9) 2; Alexanders (12) 8 OLMC (10) 3; Ladybirds (10) 19 Bluebelles (7) 6; Santa Sabina (23) 14 Santa Sabina (24) 3; 13/1: Dundas United (17) 49 Robbins (4) 4; Rovers (25) 29 Dundas Central (3) 7; Santa Sabina (19) 26 NRRSL (9) 15; NRRSL (7) 21 NRRSL (8) 20; 13/2: NRRSL (10) 23 Ravens (13) 9; YMCA (9) 17 Dundas United (18) 15; Rovers (26) 18 Rovers (27) 17; Ryde RSL (5) 23 Ladybirds (8) 10; 13/3: OLMC (9) 17 Bluebelles (6) 11; Woolwich (16) 27 Woolwich (17) 5; Santa Sabina (20) 23 Santa Sabina (21) 3; Flames (13) 17 YMCA (10) 9; 14/1: NRSL (4) 58 NRSL (5) 18; Woolwich (13) 31 Dundas Central (2) 21; Rovers (22) 38 Rovers (23) 19; Flames (10) 25 Ladybirds (7) 11; 14/2: Dundas United (16) 35 Rovers (24) 6; Flames (11) 18 Ravens (12) 10; Santa Sabina (15) 22 Santa Sabina 8; NRRSL (6) 24 Eagles (4) 6; 14/3: OLMC (8) 25 OLMC (7) 9; Woolwich (14) 18 Woolwich (15) 15; Bluebelles (5) 10 Flames (12) 9; Santa Sabina (17) 30 Santa Sabina (18) 5; 15/1: Ladybirds 30 St Gerards (4) 26; Rovers (21) 41 Dundas Central 19; Flames (9) 24 Santa Sabina (11) 23; 15/2: Ryde RSL (3) 25 E United (2) 21; NRRSL (3) 29 NRRSL (2) 29; OLMC (5) d OLMC; Dundas United (15) 35 Santa Sabina (12) 14; 15/3: Alexanders 18 Woolwich (12) 12; YMCA (7) 43 YMCA (8) 7; Santa Sabina (13) 23 Santa Sabina (14) 10; Cadets 1: Dundas United (11) 72 OLMC (3) 3; Alexanders (9) 43 Santa Sabina (7) 32; Flames (7) 45 Ravens (9) 29; Rovers (16) 61 Rovers (15) 16; Cadet 2: St Kevins (2) 35 Ladybirds 31; Rovers (18) 36 Rovers (17) 25; Dundas United (12) 41 Alexanders (10) 17; Woolwich (10) 39 Woolwich (9) 27; Cadet 3: NRRSL 44 Ravens (10) 37; E Eagles 31 Woolwich 22; YMCA (5) 31 Flames (8) 25; Ryde RSL (2) 29 Santa Sabina (8) 23; Cadet 4:Bluebelles (4) 54 Ravens 8; Rovers (19) 39 Rovers (20) 16; YMCA (6) 33 Dundas United (13) 19; Santa Sabina (10) 18 Santa Sabina (9) 17; A1: YMCA 51 Woolwich 49; NR Spirits 44 Flames 26; WRR 54 WRR (2) 14; Ravens 32 Dundas 31; A2: Epping RN 39 NRRSL 23; WRR (3) 45 WRR (4) 17; Flames (3) 33 Flames (2) 28; Alexanders 43 Santa Sabina 33; B1: Ravens (2) 33 YMCA (2) 23; Woolwich (2) 49 OLMC 27; St Gerards 63 Santa Sabina (2) 30; Rovers (5) 61 Rovers (6) 29; NR Spirits (2) 51 Woolwich (3) 47; MD Saints 52 NRRSL (2) 34; Flames (4) 32 Rovers (7) 31; Epping R & N (2) 47 Alexanders (2) 35; B3: NR Spirit (3) 35 Eastwood 24; Dundas (2) 33 Woolwich (4) 31; NRRSL (3) 33 WRR (8) 21; B4: WRR (9) 53 OLMC (2) 22; Dundas (3) 30 Dundas (4) 29; Santa Sabina (3) 45 Alexanders (3) 29; C1: NRRSL (5) 40 Aquarians 36; E United 42 Alexanders (4) 17; WRR (10) 35 WRR (11) 32; Epping R&N (4) 27 NR Spirits (4) 19; C2: WRR (12) 31 S Sabina (4) 27; Alexanders (5) 33 Bellbirds 30; Eastwood Eagles 51 Dundas (5) 32; Ravens (3) 38 Ravens (4) 33; C3: Woolwich (5) 28 Flames (5) 21; NRRSL (7) 31 NRRSL (6) 17; Epping R & N (5) 40 Dundas (6) 33; St Kevins Snrs 38 Ladybirds 11; C4: WRR (13) 24 NRRSL (8) 23; Ladybirds (3) 32 Ladybirds (2) 31; Flames (6) 62 S Sabina (5) 14; Dundas (7) 54 Epping R&N (6) 22; C5: M Bluebelles 34 S Sabina (6) 34; M D Saints (2) 52 Woolwich (6) 34; Rovers (14) 41 NR Spirits (5) 6; C6: Ravens (5 ) 16 Dundas (8) 15; Alexanders (6) 38 Alexander (7) 33; Bluebells (2) 37 YMCA (3) 20; Woolwich (8) 49 Woolwich (7) 15; C7; Alexanders (8) 36 Aquarians (2) 23; NRRSL (9) 58 Ryde RSL 8; Ravens (6) 25 NR Spirit (6) 15; YMCA (4) 44 E Eagles (2) 30; D Grade: Ladybirds (4) 21 Bluebells (3) 17; Ravens (8) 25 Ravens (7) 13; St Gerards (2) 30 St Gerards (3) 25; Dundas (10) 43 Dundas (9) 25.
Ryde Junior Hockey
U/11: Ryde Panthers 1 d Briars 0; Ryde Panthers 0 drew Briars 0; U/13: Ryde Panthers 5 d GNS 2; U/15: Ryde Tigers 5 d Briars 1; Ryde Panthers 2 d South West Strikers 0; UTS 3 d Ryde Lions 2.
* * *
Danny and Monica Townsend after their wedding on January 19 this year in the at The Gables, Chadds Ford Pennsylvania, USA. They are pictured with l to r Danny’s daughter Jordyn, matron of honour Donna Hartman, best man Matt Liou and page boy Jackson Loftin. Monica is the daughter of Charles and Stella Loftin of Virginia and Danny, the son of Barbara and TWT sales executive and former North Ryde RSL Cricket president Terry Townsend. Danny and Matt are long-time members of North Ryde Golf Club. A left-arm tearaway, Danny was also a talented cricketer with North Ryde RSL Cricket Club in the Gladesville and Northern District Cricket Association competitions. The couple have settled in the USA.
Save the Tigers
Urgent Appeal to Leichhardt Council . . .
BALMAIN Tigers Leagues Club members are calling for prompt action following continuing uncertainty over Leichhardt Council’s handling of the redevelopment of the Club.
“The club can’t afford any more delays - we need a positive end to this drawn out process to determine our future,” said Tigers Leagues Club CEO Tim Camiller yesterday “A decision is needed now if we are to save this iconic sporting club” he stated.
Mr Camiller said the Tigers’ proposed development had been subjected to an unprecedented three years of community consultation and discussion and that all the issues that could be assessed by Council have been, three times over.
“The introduction of smoking bans and the massive increases in poker machine taxes has dramatically impacted Club business, Mr Camiller said.
For three years we have tried to build a new Club that addresses these issues by diversifying our income base to be less reliant on poker machine revenue and to provide modern, outdoor amenities for members.”
‘A Great Club’
“This club has been a major contributor to the social fabric of this area and unless we get a decision soon we can’t guarantee that support to our local sporting groups and community services” said Mr Camiller.
Balmain Football Club chairman David Trodden said Leichhardt Council had promised a decision on the Club’s future in 2007.
“It’s now 2008 and we still have no guarantee that we’ll get a decision,” said Mr Trodden.
“We don’t want any favours, just certainty that someone will take responsibility and make a decision to decide our redevelopment and save this famous sporting club.”
“If we are unable to secure a rezoning the impact will be huge. We couldn’t guarantee that we’ll be able to continue supporting any level of football including the 120 teams and 2,800 kids who play in the Balmain Junior League” he said.
“The Club also provides vital local community services and employs over 100 staff. At Council’s insistence we borrowed over $10 million to consolidate our property and seek a rezoning. Now Council seems unable to deal with our application” Mr Trodden added.
Club director and Tigers’ forward great Paul Sironen said the Balmain club “was about the community, about supporting junior league and about the history of Balmain Tigers and the bright prospects of Wests Tigers.
“I fail to understand the logic behind Council’s delays when so much is at stake,” said Sironen.
“The Balmain Junior League gave me opportunities that ultimately led me to play for Australia. My two sons play in the Balmain Junior League and I always hoped they would be provided that same opportunity. I hope this inaction does not destroy this” he added.
Club director and Tigers great Ben Elias said: “This is a great club, the greatest in fact and this is a great project.
“The benefits for the whole community are enormous. Why don’t they just make a decision.
“We don’t want our Centenary year to be our last”.
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