Walgett Rams to celebrate 60 glorious years
WESTERN Plains Rugby Union premiers Walgett are setting themselves for a huge long weekend of celebrations.
The famous club is celebrating 60 fabulous years, supporting sport and families throughout long dry spells like 2018 and in the big wet years when tractors are stopped and rowboats are needed to get to games!
“We are all very excited about the upcoming celebrations. 60 years is a great achievement,” organising committee member Jane Friend said.
“Our weekend will start at 11am on Saturday, June 9, at the Algy Friend Oval where the Walgett Lambs will be put through their hoops by a well-trained team of Development Officers and local players,” Jane added with a hint of a smile.
Walgett and other western clubs have not always had their little boys and girls playing, relying over the past on boys coming home from boarding schools or moving to work in the districts.
“At 1.30 the Lambs will gambol off and the other end of the rugby playing spectrum will be on show! The Golden Oldies will have a run around to show the young how it should be done.”
Or at least how they would like to think it was done!
“At 2.30, the present Walgett Rams will take on an Invitational side made up of players who have had a past with the Lambs and or the Rams and are now playing away.
“Some are playing in the Shute Shield, NSW’S premier club competition in Sydney, others are in the City and Suburban ‘Subbies’ premierships from Sydney, and there will be players returning from Toowoomba, Trangie, Condamine and many other exotic locations from all over Australia,” Sue shared.
“The Rams will need to be on their game!”
A bar and barbecue will operate around the Tin Shed until 5 o’clock then it will be time to trade footy boots for dancing shoes as the “would-bees” and the “coulda beens” head to the local watering hole.
A formal luncheon will be held at the Tin Shed with former Wallaby Brett Papworth a most notable guest speaker. “Pappy” has made a tremendous post-playing career in the media, heard all over the country on “Talkin Sport” and in other media platforms.
Jane and her husband Wal have been working tirelessly with a small but dedicated mob of Rams and are anticipating a huge family day on the Saturday.
Over 300 are booked in for Sunday lunch!