Sport
8 January, 2024
SUMMER READING: Rising a second time
A HASTILY-WRITTEN sign stuck with strapping tape to the clubroom concrete wall was unable to mask enthusiasm at Newbridge on June.. The sign directed players and supporters in search of refreshments to the tennis shed, one side temporarily shielded...
A HASTILY-WRITTEN sign stuck with strapping tape to the clubroom concrete wall was unable to mask enthusiasm at Newbridge on June..
The sign directed players and supporters in search of refreshments to the tennis shed, one side temporarily shielded with a plastic tarpaulin.
There were other signs of the near-record flood that submerged the ground and facilities last October.
Dried grass and twigs still entwined in wire cables and fencing, the tennis court fencing that had been twisted and virtually flattened removed to unmask a barren playing surface.
They were in contrast to the immaculate football field - lush green grass - overlooked by an electronic scoreboard that had fizzled under metres of water and virtually became the temporary parking bay for the vehicle of an errant driver who foolishly drove into flood waters.
At the tennis shed, Ron Trimble was on barbecue duty with Mick Holland and football club president Andrew Friswell.
The spot close to where Ron marshalled the troops within days of the floods to begin the massive clean-up. The local community and footballers from clubs across the region turned out to help a club whose headquarters had now been decimated by floods twice in 11 years.
Andrew says the partnership between the community, club and council had made the return of sport to Newbridge possible.
In a warm-up for the official flood recovery round this weekend, the Maroons were enthusiastic about having players and supporters back on home turf.
Andrew estimates the recovery effort has already had a bill of $2.5 million.
Insurance, grants, local fundraising and hundreds of volunteer hours bringing new life to the reserve.
“Being on the road all season has taken a bit of a toll on players. You don’t really have your identity when on the road week after week,” Andrew said.
“That changes now we’re back home and it’s exciting.”
There were finishing touches being put on function room this week.
“The local CFA came the other day and power-washed the concrete apron ... the community has been really good.” he said.
And it was not just Andrew Friswell, his committee and recreation reserve committee members excited to be at the sporting reserve overlooking a far more tranquil Loddon River compared with eight months ago.
Ken O’Shea, 86, has seen more floods than most people living in Newbridge.
He recalled the old facilities that had once been used by footballers while he and Peter Lakey munched on warm pies in the makeshift canteen.
Ken said there was a time Murray cod would be caught in a swamp behind the modern scoreboard.
“There would be floods and the water would flow into a natural gully ... you’d catch cod in the swamp,” he said.
And Ken chuckles about the old player change shed. “The tennis shed, where we are now, is about where those old sheds were ... opposing teams had to walk past Newbridge players to get to their end.”
“There was also the smell of rabbits ... dead rabbits under the floorboards.”
Peter, still loyal to the Maroons even though he has moved from Shelbourne into Maiden Gully, said he had missed the atmosphere of home games in the opening months of the 2023 Loddon Valley season.
“Now we’re back, you can see people walking past and saying hello. That’s what it’s about ... it’s community and that’s important,” Peter said.
There’s also family, says Peter, as his younger generations today player their roles with the Maroons.
“I’m still a local man even if I don’t live here anymore,” Peter said.
Ken and Peter wandered between the football and netball with beaming smiles at the return to home ground.
Smiles returned from people glad to again be saying hello to friends.
And enjoying the wafting smell of onions and snags from the barbecue.