The small community of Newbridge, located on the Loddon River outside Bendigo in rural Victoria, was recently devastated by the horrific flood levels, with the heart and soul of the tiny town, the Newbridge Football Club, totally crippled by the torrents.
On behalf of the Essendon Football Club, Bomber rookie Stewart Crameri presented a plaque to the Newbridge Football Club at the ‘Sportsman’s Function’, a fundraising event hosted at the All Seasons in Bendigo on Friday night.
The football in the plaque presented to the Newbridge Football Club was recovered from the flood debris on the day a number of Bomber players visited Newbridge in early February. The football was offered to captain Jobe Watson and the Essendon Football Club and was re-presented on Friday night to signify Essendon's support to Newbridge.
Along with a number of guest speakers, auctions and raffles, the night brought greater awareness to the full extent of the devastation to the Newbridge Football Club, including the wreckage across the club’s social rooms, club house and oval.
The night’s fundraising proceeds was devoted to relief efforts and assistance to the re-build of the Newbridge Football Club.
Ron Trimble, President of the Newbridge Football Club said that while the rebuild of the Club will be a long and tiring process, it was nonetheless well underway.
“There are always a lot of memories that any football club holds, and to have that part of your history removed [by the floods] is devastating. On top of that, we, like any club, strive to present ourselves in a manner that is upholding to the community, and we are well and truly into our rebuilding stage now,” Trimble said.
“Like the Essendon Football Club, we both have a very proud history. We very much appreciate, and are grateful for the support the Essendon Football Club has shown.”