Rochester hosts first footy and netball games since 2022 floods

It’s a small but significant moment. Rochester hosted its first local footy game since last year’s floods as the town continued its remarkable recovery.

Rochester’s recovery has reached a small but significant milestone.

On Saturday, the Rochester Football Netball Club hosted its first Goulburn Valley League match since the devastation of October’s floods.

The club is part of the community’s heartbeat.

Despite losing to Kyabram, four points were the least important element of the day.

“It’s been a tough effort to get here,” an emotional Rochester president Justin Cleary said.

“Three-quarters of our committee, if not more, are living outside of their homes at the moment.

“Many of our players, our kids, our netballers, our captain, our coach. Everyone in this community has been impacted and they continue to support each other.

“It has been a bloody big challenge.”

It was a special day for these supporters. Picture: Rob Leeson.

Before the ball was bounced to start the senior game, a pre-match ceremony was held.

Hosted by Brad McEwan, one of the town’s most popular exports and media personality, his speech spoke about the importance of the community continuing to support one another.

Beyond Blue was in attendance, reminding everyone it’s okay to be speak up and ask for help.

But the biggest cheer of that pre-match moment was when it was confirmed every Rochester resident had a membership to attend home games thanks to the club’s Shout a Membership campaign.

“We’ve had tremendous support from our shout a membership,” Cleary said.

“That’s still open if people want to jump online and keep supporting that initiative, it would be fantastic.

“It’s an opportunity to bring people together, our community together and it seems to be working, doesn’t it.”

Rochester went down to Kyabram. Picture: Rob Leeson.

Despite the continued challenges the town has faced in recent months, that didn’t stop the most loyal Tigers supporters from being there.

Club legend Jim Kilpatrick tossed the coin and there was plenty of coaches offering their own advice throughout the match over the fence.

John Newman, who has been involved with the club for close to four decades and is the interchange steward, was never going to miss footy’s return.

Even just several days shy of his 83rd birthday he wasn’t going to miss the season opener.

“I love this club,” he said.

“We’re bloody tough you know.”

Ash Watson, a former AFL footballer with North Melbourne, took charge of the Tigers senior side for the first time as coach.

And the moment was not lost on him.

“The town has been through so much over the last period of time and to see everyone come together is pretty emotional,” he said.

“People here still don’t have their houses, myself included, six months later.

“To see all the familiar faces here and around town is fantastic.”

It was only fitting the Tigers opened their season against the Bombers.

When flooding devastated the town, Kyabram players and officials made the 25-minute trek west to support their mates in need.

While they were opponents on Saturday, Kyabram were the teammates the Rochester community needed only several months ago.

“Football and netball sort of divides in a way but we’re a bigger community than that,” he said.

“They’re (Kyabram) all part of our community and we’re part of theirs.

“In sport, grudges get put aside when things are in crisis and we couldn’t be more thankful for the support Kyabram has shown us.”