Wyong Leagues Club launches new foundation with $30K donation

A CHANCE meeting at Kirribilli House has given a tiny charity a huge boost while providing Wyong Rugby League Club Group the perfect “vehicle” to launch its new philanthropic foundation.

The newly formed Wyong Roos Foundation has donated $30,000 to Central Coast Kids In Need. (AAP IMAGE / Troy Snook)

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A CHANCE meeting at Kirribilli House has given a tiny charity a huge boost while providing Wyong Rugby League Club Group the perfect “vehicle” to launch its new philanthropic foundation.

Leagues club chairman Kevin Pearce said they had been looking for some time to launch a charitable arm above and beyond what the club was legally required to contribute in the form of its community grants.

“We have been searching the local area for suitable charities, our criteria being that they are local, have little or no `administration’ costs or overheads and are transparent in terms of auditing and reconciliation of disbursements,” he said.

However it was only last month when CEO Michael Coghlan was at a cocktail party at Kirribilli House when he heard one of two sisters talk about Central Coast Kids in Need (CCKIN).

Wyong Leagues CEO Michael Coghlan

and Chairman Kevin Pearce.

He later approached CCKIN secretary Lorraine Churchill who explained a bit more about the charity, how it helps families of seriously ill children — who have to travel to Newcastle or Sydney for treatment — cover their transport, accommodation and other costs.

The charity supports local families like the Metcalfe’s who’s four-year-old daughter Olive (pictured) was born with spina bifida.

So impressed, Mr Coghlan invited Ms Churchill and her sister CCKIN treasurer Rhonda Doyle to meet the board and give a presentation asking for a donation.

Mr Pearce said little did the sisters know, the leagues club group had done a bit of research and discovered the charity was the perfect “vehicle” to launch the Wyong Roos Foundation.

Ms Churchill said they were blown away when their request was tripled.

“I asked for $10,000 they gave us $30,000,” Ms Churchill said.

“It’s a boost for us because our numbers (requests for assistance) are increasing every day.”

She said the Wyong Roos Foundation had also offered to support the charity in other ways such as the use of the club’s rooms as well as offering office, printing and postage.

(L-R) Kristy Asimus and Bob Pettiford from the Wyong Roos Foundation, Central Coast Kids In Need’s Rhonda Doyle and Mark Coleman, Matt Metcalfe and daughter Olive, 4, Wyong Roos’ Ben Coghlan, Kids In Need’s Lorraine Churchill and volunteer Louis Coleman, 14, at Bateau Bay Bowling Club. (AAP IMAGE / Troy Snook)

Mr Pearce said the Wyong Roos Foundation was also made aware of particularly tragic case of a young boy named James Barry, 11, who’s bowel had wasted away and he needed a special bed and mattress costing more than $3300.

“Michael (Coghlan) then told them that we would make an initial contribution of $30,000 and that we had already paid for the bed and mattress,” Mr Pearce said.

“Needless to say, there were tears all around. These are very passionate ladies.”

The Wyong Roos Foundation has also purchased a split air conditioner for quadriplegic Brad De Wit, of Avoca Beach, who recently suffered a stroke and is bedridden.