SPORT
Friday August 27, 2021
Cairns Local News
A cracker of a club with a fresh approach PETER MCCULLAGH
PHOTO: HDEvolution
MUDCRABS RUCK
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CLUB REPORT Mudcrabs
COVID lockdown restrictions haven’t stopped the Crabs from putting in the hard yards this week at training with an eye on their looming semi-final clash. Even though the team can’t practice scrums and lineouts they have been hard at work establishing systems and expanding fitness to make sure they don’t disappoint as heavy favourites for the competition. The coaches have laid a platform that the playing group will hope to refine and master over the next seven days. The playing group for both the Men’s and Women’s teams are lucky to have a coaching staff as knowledgeable and dedicated as this group in 2021. That’s why this week’s profiles are dedicated to our coaching team. They give up their spare time every week to make the success of the club possible and everyone at the club appreciates the hard work they put in. If you are interested in coaching some rugby the FNQ rugby season is just around the corner and the club is always looking for passionate volunteers to get involved. Mudcrab’s Rob Lyons Name: Bob Lyons Nickname: Not Provided Coaching Role: Assistant Coach Job/occupation: Assistant in Nursing Hobbies/interests: hiking and anything to do with the ocean Why do you coach: Only because I can’t play anymore. Favorite moment this season: Watching my son Andre and Sven’s boy play one on one rugby after the men’s game late in to the night.
Mudcrab’s Sven Schafer Name: Sven Schäfer Nickname: Not Provided Coaching Role: Men’s Head Coach / Forwards Coach Job/occupation: Employment consultant Hobbies/interests: Rugby Why do you coach: I enjoy the camaraderie and mateship built on the paddock. Favorite moment this season: Our win against JCU in the first round. It was one of the best games I have seen this group of players produce.
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Mudcrab’s Gareth Williams Name: Gareth Williams Nickname: ‘G’
IT’S A sad fact, in country towns across Australia small community-based sports clubs are struggling. It was no different for Innisfail Bowls Club. Despite a beautiful location, a rich heritage, six years ago they were financially stretched and facing an uncertain future. Today they are a buoyant beacon and social hub in the region. This resurgence and new-found energy has been led by their President, Alf Strano. Traditionally a bowls club is viewed as the domain of the older Australian, it is not the sort of venue you would find young energetic backpackers enjoying a great night out. Strano and his committee embarked on a bold strategy, to become the social hub for Innisfail and openly welcome the large and well cashed up backpacker community. Innisfail with their rural base was a mecca for backpackers working rurally as they travelled Australia. Without many venues in Innisfail where they could feel at home and comfortable the Innisfail Bowls Club soon became their home away from home. Themed nights, karaoke, fancy dress, beer-pong and community activities quickly became the norm at the bowls club, changing and rejuvenating this regional club. COVID may have slowed the club down, but it remains the social hub for locals as well as the reduced number of backpackers in the region. Whilst they faced their financial demons a few years
ago, the Innisfail Bowls Club has been under threat for the past 60 years. Erosion from the constant floods and the menace of the Johnstone River threatened to take the club away. Perhaps they were now more than one more flood away from collapsing totally into the river. The club had been petitioning to all levels of government seeking funds to stabilise the bank underpinning the club and protecting this critical social hub for the future. Works have been completed with over $1.2 million spent stabilising the bank, with the official opening of the redevelopment last Friday. The redevelopment included the installation of new greens for the approximately 70 members to enjoy. The next project on the drawing board for the Innisfail Bowls Club will be the quest for funding to install a roof over the greens. Due to the weather extremes you can experience in Innisfail, it can either be too wet or too hot outside for bowls, the all-weather roof will change the dynamics for the better. Wanting to broaden their base further, the Club wants to get schools involved and introduce the new generation to the membership. The roof will further strengthen of offering; however, it will require support once more form all levels of government. Once installed the club’s offering will be strong allowing all year-round hosting of zone, regional and state events.
Coaching Role: Women’s Head Coach Job/occupation: Logistics specialist Hobbies/interests: Rugby, Movies, being an Eggs Benny eating phenomenon Why do you coach: To grow the sport of Rugby, and give back to the rugby community. Favorite moment this season: Seeing the women develop their skills, and getting their long awaited time in the spotlight.
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