Sports

All-female crew headline Female Football Week

A networking evening that coincided with the NPL Women’s NNSW Match of the Round headlined Northern NSW Football’s 2022 Female Football Week celebrations. Female Football Week ran from Friday 6 May to Sunday 15 May, giving the football community the chance to celebrate the immense growth of the women’s game and acknowledge female players, coaches, referees and administrators in football. The marquee event of the week was the networking evening to be held at the Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility on Saturday 14 May. The night celebrated the accomplishments and contributions of women in football as well as volunteers who have donated hours of service to growing and improving the game for women and girls across northern NSW. Football Australia’s General Manager – World Cup Legacy Programs Carlee Millikin spoke about Football Australia’s FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 Legacy Plan (Legacy ’23) and how this would impact football for women and girls in the coming years. The NPL Women’s NNSW Match of the Round between Charlestown Azzurri and Newcastle Olympic followed the networking evening, on the grass pitch at the Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility. In addition to the networking evening, Northern NSW Football hosted another seven events across the week including a Coaching Masterclass conducted by Football Australia’s Women’s Technical Advisor and under-17s women’s head coach Rae Dower, while FIFA listed referee Kate Jacewicz conducted a Referee Masterclass. Jacewicz then led an all-female team of charge of the NPL Men’s NNSW Match of the Round between Charlestown Azzurri and Broadmeadow Magic at Lisle Carr Oval on Sunday. Northern NSW Football is delighted to announce the recipients of its inaugural Local Champion Awards for April. The NNSWF Local Champion Awards are a monthly recognition of individuals and teams who make a difference across the football family as we thank them for their commitment to their club, team, community and football.

NNSWF Local

Volunteer of the Month

Ben Perry – Italo Stars FC

Ben Perry describes it as the most hectic day of his life. Ben is the vicepresident at Italo Stars FC. The Football Far North Coast club were one of the hardest hit by the northern NSW March and continue to affect large areas of the Northern Rivers and Clarence Valley. Ben and his Italo Stars teammate Nick Organ spent seven hours rescuing people from in Lismore at the start of the disaster. The pair met up at Ben’s place and used his driveway as a boat ramp to launch his 14-foot tinny into the murky engulfed much of the area. They pulled people from second and third story windows, from rooves and from people’s kitchens and loungerooms. Ben’s trusty tinny, normally used for crabbing and occasional people comfortably. But there were times when they had up to 10 people and even a dog on board as Ben and Nick tirelessly ferried people to safety. “That Monday was pretty hectic. Probably the most hectic day I’ve ever had,” Ben said. “We were using the boat to get friends, family, strangers out of a pretty dire situation. There were hundreds of guys in boats who did a lot of good things in very dangerous conditions. “It’s mind-blowing now to think about how much water there was. We were ducking powerlines on the main road. You stand under a powerline and look up and see how high it is. This was the main street of Lismore. I don’t want to see that again.” The danger was everywhere. On their side was Ben’s and in a boat. But against them was the dangerous debris, the pouring rain and the volume of water. Hearing was impaired as the rain hammered down relentlessly, while the sound of windows smashing and desperate people screaming for Then there was the danger of other boats and jet skis crisscrossing roads to reach people on rooftops. It was chaos. “We got hit by a large gas bottle. It felt like a whale coming up underneath the boat. It was pretty scary in that you just didn’t know what was happening,” Ben said. “The water was a dark brown, black colour. It was a bit surreal getting people out. There wasn’t anyone in shock until we got them out of there. Getting out of their houses people were just in survival mode. Once that was over that’s when people started breaking down. People were crying in the boat. “It was pretty traumatic. It probably didn’t really kick in until the week after. It took a while [to process]. It was a pretty full on thing that happened.” Ben’s association with Italo Stars goes back 30 years. He has been a player, a coach and even enjoyed a stint as club president. He has held most roles on the committee and was awarded life membership in 2016 as the club celebrated its 50th year. He and a dedicated group of about 10 volunteers have spent countless hours cleaning up at the club in a desperate attempt to play football again this season. It took a few days before they could even reach the ground. Their club house had only been open three weeks following a two-year refurbishment. Their home at Barrow Lane was all but gone. They had lost everything. “I’ve never seen a war zone but that was as close as I’ll ever come to seeing a bomb hitting somewhere in Lismore,” Ben said. “We had lost all power. It was mind-blowing. Everything was gone. You think, where do you even start? “We just salvaged what we could. We found junior goals two or three kilometres away in someone’s front yard. Everyone knows everyone in the North Lismore community so I was getting phone calls where someone would say ‘we’ve found your goals in Mary’s front yard on so-and-so street’. “The second thing was hosing everything off and

Sports results

Ballina Mahjong

13th May 2022

Coral Lavelle 1, Jan Rhodes 2, Gail McDonagh 3, Shirley Coleman 4, Pauline Kearney 5, Shirley Atkinson 6, Kath Hubbard 7, Wendy Thornton 8, June Grebert 9, Pam Farrell 10, Kathy Pickles 11, Joy Lowien 12, Ronda Taylor 13, Jan Henley 14, Jan Boardman 15, Lisa Wong 16, Sally Lowry 17, Shirley Henry 18. Mahjong is played on Friday at 12:30pm at the Ballina Bridge Club North Creek Road. Enquiries for new players phone Vanessa on 66874181.

Casino RSM Women’s Bowls Winners of our Major pairs championship : A. James & N. Moran

Results from Wednesday 11/5

Today we had our last Singles championship. A. Williams def N. Moran Congratulations to both bowlers it was a very close game all the way. A. Williams will play H. Lavelle In the Major singles championship

Cherry Street Croquet Club ASSOCIATION CROQUET : G.Porter 22 d G.Drew H.Young 13 RICOCHET CROQUET :

Champion Awards

trying to get everything back working. Our mower went for a swim but we got it back running. There’s still a lot to clean up that we haven’t even touched. “We’re going to try guys are tradesmen and up out of their own pocket. Our lights have been destroyed. Training went back last week but we can only train for an hour or so without lights.” Ben was grateful for the visit from Northern NSW Football on their Flood Support Road Trip last week. “[NNSWF] donated truckloads of stuff. We didn’t even have a single ball or bib a week ago. Now we’ve got balls, equipment,” Ben said. “It’s going to be a slow process. The water pressure blew the roller doors off our storeroom and everything just perpetual trophies, kits, cones, wiped off the planet. “Now we’ve got some gear so we can have some training sessions. two bags of kits which somehow stayed in the bags over on the over managed to wash them so we have a strip for our junior and senior side to wear.” The disaster was almost the death of the club but the Stars continue to shine. While they have lost players and volunteers, Ben was optimistic about the future and the 2022 season. “Initially it was all a bit too much but we talked to a few guys and discussed it among the group. The consensus was what else are we going to do?” Ben said. “Apart from work there’s nothing else to do. In our area there’s no real social activity bar sport. So we got a team together. Last year we had four senior and year just one senior and we’ve scraped together two junior teams.” Referee of the Month

Lucy Hungerford – NNSWF Referees

Lucy has demonstrated outstanding ability and commitment during her three seasons as a match risen through the ranks level of football rare for someone so young. Lucy attends coaching sessions, training and courses to upgrade gain more knowledge. She is a member of the NNSWF Youth Referee Academy where she is a willing contributor to the coaching and development opportunities she receives.

Coach of the Month

Scott Masters – Kahibah FC

Scott has been coaching girls’ football for four years including under-7s, 8s, 11s and 12s. He is a strong advocate for women’s football and encourages the girls to give their all as sportswomen. Fair play and striving to do their best create an enjoyable atmosphere for the girls who have a ball playing together.

Player of the Month

Joshua Cappiello – Stockton Sharks FC

Joshua is an inspiration. Not only does he manage to play and coach his team but he inspires and encourages every player to do their best.

Team of the Month

Bellingen United FC First Grade – Coastal Premier League

Bellingen United FC have transitioned into the Coastal Premier League competition. They have growth at the club and rating in the National Club Development Program last year. Club of the Month

Nelson Bay FC

Nelson Bay FC is one of the largest clubs operating within Northern NSW Football. The committee have continued the great work of their predecessors in strengthening the club’s governance and striving to attract new people to the club. The club have made a strong commitment to NNSWF community programs including delivering a Kick On for Women program and recently delivering Summer Football despite the pandemic impacts. Nelson Bay FC create numerous opportunities for women and girls to engage with football and will be engaging with Female Football Week, which started on Friday.

Northern NSW Football Community Football Manager Ross Hicks congratulated the recipients and thanked them for their contribution to football in northern NSW.

N.Barnes P.Doyle 10 d P.Scott N.Watts 7 B.Wellings C.Lane 13 d R.Allen M.Russell 10 Club Handicap Championships : P.Waters B.Waters 16 d C.Edlund J.Hannigan 6 G.Drew 13 d G.Porter 12 TOURNAMENTS : Australian Golf Croquet Singles & Doubles Championships Cairnlea Victoria. Singles : David Scott 11th, Ray Chapman 17th. Plate : Ray Chapman 1st. Doubles : David Scott, Ray Chapman 10th. Plate : Ray Chapman & David Scott 2nd.

RIGHT: Ray Chapman & David Scott Australian Doubles Golf Croquet Plate Runners up 2022. FAR RIGHT: Ray Chapman 1st Australian Singles Golf Croquet Plate Division 2022.

Cudgen Surf Club

The Club centenary luncheon at the Twin Towns R.S.L. Club will be held this coming Saturday. The fun starts on Friday night with a bit of catch up at the Surf club with members coming from out of town. On Sunday there will be a display of memorabilia at the Club. Over 200 will be attending the luncheon. A long table lunch was held following the Club Championships. Winners were: -15 Male – Jack French; Female – Claudia Arghyros, Kloe Mills: -17 Male – Zane Chisholm; Female – Sienna Lee : Masters Male – Stephen George; Female – Janthea Anderson Senior Male – Kai Onley; Female – Hayley Smith: Surf Sports Awards for the season are: Most Consistent Performers announced are: Junior – Deacon Streader; Senior – Rory Matthews: Masters – Warren Boyd: Furtherest in Competition: Junior – Molly Eddy; Aust. Bronze Medal. Senior Aust. Bronze Medal Masters – Adam Mills; Aust. Silver Medal

Coaches Award

– Water – Claudia Arghyros: Beach Molly Eddy:

Best Competition

Performance – Claudia Arghyros – Gavin Marshall

Pool Rescue Competitor of the

Pool Rescue competition competitor age starts at 11 years. All competition from Branch to Australian was cancelled last year. The F.N.C. Branch they will hold an event this season. Their A.G.M. will be held at Ballina, Saturday 28th at 10am. Qld. Carnival dates are: 28th May – Gold Coast Competition – Gold Coast Aquattic Centre. 25th June – Sunshine Coast – Sunshine Coast Grammar 9th July – Brisbane – Musgrave Park 23rd – 29th July – Qld. Titles – Southport Aquatic Centre 5th – 7th August – Aust. Titles – Southport Aquatic Centre. After being in recess last year due to COVID restrictions our winter swim group, the Cudgen Coldies had their 43rd A.G.M. last Sunday. They swim to a nominated time on Sunday mornings. The Old Boys Assoc. have had their 40th A.G.M. They have donated in April to the Tweed Flood Appeal.

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