Townsville City Council donates mower to MA Olympic after theft

Council steps up to help football club after both of their mowers were stolen.

Head of Football Operation Gianni Rantucci testing out the mower donated by Townsville City Council.

Townsville City Council has helped out MA Olympic by donating a ride-on lawnmower after the club had two of theirs stolen.

Two weeks ago, thieves gained access to MA Olympics training ground by cutting a hole in the fence and breaking in the utilities shed and first stealing one mower, before returning the next night for the second mower.

Vice President of MA Olympic, Theo Nicopoulos, said getting a new mower donated from the council was something the club didn’t expect.

“It’s something that shocked us really, the kindness and generosity of the council to get on-board and help us keep the club running it’s huge for us,” he said.

“It obviously helps us financially, and the main thing is getting the kids on the park and getting the season continuing without any disruptions for training.”

Head of Football Operation Gianni Rantucci testing out the mower donated by Townsville City Council.

It’s a big job keeping the grass mowed at the training grounds in Annandale, with it taking workers five to six hours with two mowers.

The mower donated is a bit bigger than the two which were stolen from the club.

“It is a big task, it takes a lot of our own time up to do it, but with this generosity of this mower that’s come in, it’s a lot bigger than what we had so obviously to cut down those hours a bit,” Mr Nicopolous said.”

The football club had seen overwhelming support from the community since the two mowers were taken, with businesses such as Get Mowed, You’re Mate With a Mower, Ausfield Services and Grassworks Lawn Care.

“It’s been fantastic for the club just to keep the kids on the park, it’s been great,” Mr Nicopolous said.

Acting Mayor Ann-Maree Greaney said donating a mower to MA Olympic was a no-brainer.

“All that effort that goes into soccer and sporting organisations like this, it’s such a shame that this has happened here,” she said.

“But anything that the council can do to assist, we have, and very pleased we were able to donate this lawnmower.”

Cr Greaney said it’s all about the kids being able to play on the fields.

“It’s nice to come out here and see people on a beautiful afternoon being able to enjoy these facilities,” she said.

“Any help with the mower that we can do to be able to enable the sporting clubs to cut their grass and get the kids back on the field we’re really, really pleased to do.”

Originally published as Townsville City Council donates mower to MA Olympic after theft