Preston Campbell wins another top league award
November 14, 2008
Jetstar Gold Coast Titans fullback Preston Campbell this week capped a stellar season after being presented with the Telstra Ken Stephen Medal at the second annual One Community Awards at Sydney’s Luna Park.
Campbell was honoured for his tireless work with Indigenous communities as he received the NRL’s highest accolade for outstanding service to the game both on and off the field.
Campbell continued his commitment to the community in 2008, making 38 appearances including visits to Coffs Harbour and Lismore for NAIDOC week celebrations.
He also participated in a video conference at Griffith University which enabled him to talk to students at six different regional schools from far western NSW.
Ian Donnelly helps launch Wishing Tree Appeal
November 12, 2008
Pre-Christmas spirit is already alive and well within the Jetstar Gold Coast Titans ranks, with two of the club’s gentle giants, Ian Donnelly and Matthew White, today helping to launch the 2008 Kmart Wishing Tree Appeal.
New Jetstar Titans recruit White and Ballina-raised Donnelly helped kick-off the 21st annual Kmart Wishing Tree Appeal, Australia’s largest Christmas gift appeal, by donating a gift on behalf of the Jetstar Titans.
The appeal urges participants to place a gift, either wrapped or unwrapped, under the Christmas Wishing Tree located at the front of Kmart stores around the country.
The donated gifts are then collected by welfare organisations such as the Salvation Army and The Smith Family and distributed to people in need over the festive season.
Northern United finally gains admission to NRRRL
November 11, 2008
A three-year battle by Indigenous club Northern United to gain admission to the Northern Rivers Regional Rugby League competition has finally been won.
The NRRRL clubs accepted Northern United’s submission at Monday night’s annual meeting, but imposed conditions on the club’s entry.
Delegates at the meeting also discussed the move by South Tweed to leave the NRRRL and play on the Gold Coast, with most echoing the sentiment of ‘let them go’.
However, a final decision still has to be made, but it appears that Northern United will fill the gap left by South Tweed.
Steve Price looks to life after football with SCU degree
November 11, 2008
As well as representing Australia in the rugby league World Cup, sports star Steve Price has been balancing his career with studying for a professional business qualification.
The Australian prop and New Zealand Warriors captain is completing the final stages of a Master of Business Administration (MBA) through Southern Cross University’s Graduate College of Management.
Steve said that while the course had been a challenge, it was an important part of his long-term plan for the future.
“I’ve had friends in the rugby league world who thought that they would get a job after retiring from the game because of who they are and what they do, and they’ve ended up getting a shock,” said Steve.
Football Far North Coast’s Matt Kelso resigns
October 31, 2008
Football Far North Coast General Manager Matt Kelso has announced his resignation after an eight-year term.
The announcement came as quite a surprise to most of the North Coast football fraternity and to the board and staff of FFNC.
Kelso has been provided an opportunity to take his skills and experience into a community development role with the Australian Sports Commission, filling a vacancy in their Ballina office.
The appointment of Kelso in 2001 was seen as a radical departure from the traditional community volunteer committee, but has proven to be fundamental to the rapid growth of football in the North Coast region.
Far North Coast rugby squad for 2009 announced
October 23, 2008
Far North Coast Rugby Union has announced its 2009 opens training squad.
The team finally selected will take part in the NSW Country Championships, with one match to be played in the FNC Zone on March 21 at Crozier Field, Lismore, and two away matches on the following weekend at a venue to be decided.
There will be a squad meeting on the Monday, November 3, at the Rous Hotel, Lismore, starting at 6.30pm.
The first training run is on Saturday, November 15, at the Ballina Rugby Club from 2.30pm.
The squad is:
NRRRL looks set for a shake-up in 2009
October 23, 2008
The Retravision Northern League competition looks set for a massive shake-up in 2009, with the Northern Rivers Regional Rugby League clubs backing a north-south split to the competition.
NRRRL president Robin Harley’s plan to ease the travelling burden on clubs was given majority support at a meeting of clubs in Ballina this week.
Under the plan, the competition would be split into two divisions:
- NORTHERN CONFERENCE: Ballina, Byron Bay, Mullumbimby, Tweed Coast Raiders, Cudgen Hornets, South Tweed, Murwillumbah.
- SOUTHERN CONFERENCE: Lismore Marist Brothers, Casino RSM, Kyogle, Evans Head, Grafton Rhinos, Grafton Ghosts, Lower Clarence Magpies.
North Coast cricket teams announced
October 22, 2008
North Coast cricket selectors have announced the Open and Bush Turkeys teams for this season’s representative matches.
The Bush Turkeys team will tour New Zealdn in January, while the Open team will travel to the Central Coast on November 29 to defend the NSW Country Cup title they won last year.
Hastings player Billy Newell has been named as captain of the senior team, while star Casino batsman Sam Irvine, who scored a sensational double hundred in last season’s LJ Hooker League grand final, has been chosen as vice-captain.
Myles McDowall will lead the Bush Turkeys, with Coffs Harbour’s Alec Byrnes the vice-captain.
Former Rally New Zealand GM to head up local FIA round
October 16, 2008
Former general manager of the Rally New Zealand, Gary Upson (pictured), has been appointed as the new GM of Australia’s round of the FIA World Rally Championship, which will be conducted in northern NSW near Kyogle and Murwillumbah from September 3 to 6, 2009.
Rally Australia reports that Upson, 41, is well-known in World Championship circles, having managed the New Zealand event from 1998 until 2005, during which time the event won the prestigious Rally of the Year Award.
He is currently Brand Manager for Land Rover New Zealand.
“I am really excited at the prospect of helping to bring the spectacle and thrill of the WRC to the East Coast of Australia for the first time,” he told Rally Australia.
Northern NSW Football appoints new development officer
October 15, 2008
Northern NSW Football has appointed a dedicated Football Development Officer to service the Northern Region of the State in recognition of the continued growth of football in the area.
Rob Clarke commenced with Northern NSW Football on Monday and is spending his first week at the Northern NSW Football Head Office at Hexham prior to working from a centralised location in Coffs Harbour from next week.
From his Coffs Harbour base, Clarke will service the Far North Coast, North Coast, Mid North Coast and Inland regions, to compliment the support provided by Peter Haynes, who fills a similar role in Newcastle, servicing the Newcastle, Hunter, Lake Macquarie and Taree/Forster areas.
Clarke has been involved in coaching and development for over 20 years, covering both junior and senior football, as well as youth development and representative programs including National Championships, most recently coaching the Tasmanian Under-15 and Under-17 Girls at the 2007/8 Championships in Coffs Harbor.
