Club continues challenge
Legacy lives on through junior footy tournament
THE Manktelow Bush Challenge brings city and country junior teams together to play footy for the fun of it.
Pittsworth and District Junior Rugby League started the annual challenge three years after the tragic passing of Sue Manktelow.
Her two sons, Brady and Darby, played for Pittsworth and the whole family was heavily involved with the club.
“Sue was just one of those mums always doing something for the club and her boys,” Jaime Fing said.
Jaime became involved with the Pittsworth club because of Sue.
“I didn’t even know Sue for that long but the impact was profound,” she said.
“She was just one of those women who was just so easy to get on with.
“Her passion for the boys and footy and being a part of the club was just second to none.”
With Sue’s youngest son Darby finishing up with the junior club next year Jaime wanted to ensure Sue’s legacy and the Manktelow Bush Challenge lived on.
So she created a video of this year’s competition which has now been seen more than 5000 times.
“It wasn’t something I wanted to slap together,” Jaime said.
“I felt a lot of pressure within myself to get it right. I wanted to make the boys and Rusty (Sue’s husband) proud.
“I wanted them to look at it and go ‘wow, that’s our
mum and this is the legacy she leaves behind’.”
Through the video, which showcases the tournament, she hoped to encourage the next generation of juniors to continue the Manktelow Bush Challenge.
“My fear was that when
this group of boys leave what happens to that tradition?,” Jaime said.
“The video is about showing it off and telling people what it means to get in, have fun and play footy with your mates.
“That’s what Sue always encouraged her boys to do.”
Since the video was posted to social media people from outside clubs have approached Jaime asking how to get involved.
Next year the Manktelow Bush Challenge heads to Charleville and Jaime is confident it will continue for year to come as Sue would have wanted.