Sport
13 October, 2024
Gillar Hunters represent at Dubbo knockout
A team with a vision to give players from both Gilgandra and Gulargambone a chance to represent their communities and close connection to the Castlereagh River made the second round of the prestigious Dubbo Waratahs Aboriginal Rugby League Knockout at Apex Oval on Saturday, September 28.
The Gillar Freshwater Hunters side won its opening round match against the tournament host Dubbo Waratahs 28-18 but then went down to eventual winners Euabalong Tigers in the second round. Gillar is a word which merges both Gil and Gular to represent both communities which are connected to the Castlereagh River.
The vision was to form a team that consisted of Gulargambone and Gilgandra rugby league players who were local or had family ties to either or both communities. That vision was achieved with great success.
“With more time spent playing together and developing that bond, I have no doubt we will be a team to watch in the future,” Gillar Freshwater Hunters committee member and player Will Towney said. “The best part about it is, we will not only be representing the Indigenous cohort of residence but everyone who lives in the townships of Gilgandra and Gulargambone.”
The Gillar Freshwater Hunters were successful in bringing quality players home, some as far as Toowoomba, for this event to represent their community and family. A large number of community members that were both Indigenous and non-Indigenous supported the side both during the knockout and at their captains run at McGrane Oval in Gilgandra on Friday, September 27.
Local Elder and rugby league legend, Reggie McEwen, had presented the Gillar players their playing kits after a heartfelt speech by club president Anthony Towney. At Dubbo, players for special mention and voted by our playing group on their performances were:
- Player of the Day: Ryan Millgate (number 13)
- Best Back: Damon Goolagong Jnr (number four)
- Best Forward: Brayden Peachey (number 17)
- Impact Bench Player: Josh Nixon (number 19)
- Young Gun: Tallis McEwen (number seven)
“We are now aiming to enter a women’s squad into a 2025 knockout and also a men’s team into the Newcastle Nines held in January 2025,” Will Towney said. “If you are a business or individual who can assist in funding our squad, we would muchly appreciate your donation and would invite you to join our journey in developing a powerhouse rugby league club for our future athletes."
“This is much larger than just rugby league, it’s about reconnecting families and bringing everyone together, bringing everyone home. It’s something myself and our committee value much more than just the results and it showed on the weekend with the amount of support that stood with us."
“Special mention to Shane Byrne and the Gilgandra Panthers. Thank you for hosting our training session and providing our community barbecue after our captains run,” he said.
