Roosters’ nest set for upgrade

alleys Roosters juniors have scored a big win for league amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Valleys Roosters junior secretary Garry Tallon (left) discusses how the club will use its Gambling Community Benefit Fund grant with Member for Toowoomba South David Janetzki.

LEAGUE : Valleys Roosters juniors have scored a big win for league amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

With a $35,000 Gambling Community Benefit Fund grant approved, the TJRL club will begin upgrading its Pillar St facilities.

“The Gambling Community Benefit Fund is amazing,” Valleys Roosters secretary Garry Tallon said.

“You can only get by so much on chook raffles and meat trays.

“Because we are likely to lose a large portion of the season if not the entire thing, we will lose a big chunk of fundraising.

“Now, because of this grant we can complete some much-needed upgrades to help the club thrive well into the future

“Most of the money will go toward replacing the windows on the clubhouse so we can drop the netting that protects them and we’ll spend some on new goalposts for our other fields as well.”

With Roosters’ long term future looking a bit brighter, Tallon said he hopes the club’s juniors will have something to celebrate in 2020.

“We’ve already had to cancel a fair chunk of our 50-year celebration plans,” he said.

“Hopefully we can get some games in for our juniors at least.

“I’d feel really bad for the players in their final year as juniors if they didn’t get to line up in their final season.”

Member for Toowoomba South David Janetzki hopes the grant announcement is a silver lining in an otherwise dark period for sport in Toowoomba and the region.

“We sometimes take for granted the effect something as simple as playing rugby league can have on those who love the game – but especially our kids,” Janetzki said.

“I have no doubt they (the kids) are probably climbing the walls at home right now because they just want to get out and play footy.

“My hope is that these upgrades can build on the Valleys’ legacy and create a positive environment for young kids to come and play rugby league again very soon.

“And I want to encourage more clubs to try and take advantage of programs like this one (the GCBF).

“It’s a great opportunity to invest in and improve their facilities to build a better future.

“Things are tough now but life will go on and it will get better so we should do what we can now to be ready for that.”

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