Goulburn Valley: Rochester ‘shout a membership’ drive a roaring success

Goulburn Valley league club Rochester is being overwhelmed with the response for its ‘shout a membership’ drive in the wake of major floods last year.

Rochester Football-Netball Club is tackling the aftermath of devastating floods with a “shout a membership” initiative attracting support from well beyond the Goulburn Valley.

The town suffered major damage when the Campaspe River burst its banks late last year. Many residents, including club supporters, players and officials, are still unable to return to their homes.

North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson in Rochester recently during North Melbourne’s AFL Community Camp. Picture: Morgan Hancock/Getty Images

North Melbourne visited Rochester this week on its AFL Community Camp.

But the recently launched membership initiative is going to have longer-term benefits for supporters of the club.

It is targeted at those living outside Rochester, in hopes they will pay for a membership for someone in the town wanting to attend home matches this season.

Club president Justin Cleary said the response had been staggering.

“A friend of mine in England has bought a membership, I’ve had a phone call from Western Australia today and yesterday I fielded calls from all over the state,” he said.

“People are reaching out because they might have a link to Rochester footy club or they know someone who might be affected.

“They recognise Rochester is still in a lot of pain and are genuinely concerned about us.

“Knowing there is a lot of support outside our community is telling us we’re not alone.”

North Melbourne visited Rochester on its AFL Community Camp this week. Picture: Morgan Hancock/Getty Images

Mr Cleary said former player and sports reporter Brad McEwan had been instrumental in helping raise awareness of the membership drive.

Long-term club official Bruce Watson said the town was still in recovery mode.

“Basically the only place left standing after the floods was the footy club,” he said.

“Everyone was meeting at the club because there were no churches, no halls, no schools.

“Ninety per cent of homes were inundated and they’re now all gutted.

“Every business in town had to shut their doors, some have reopened, some haven’t.

“We know we’re probably going to struggle this year footy-wise, but we will do the best we can.”