Clubs rally round

By Callan Date
A JUNIOR football club ravaged by fire last month is slowly rebuilding thanks to the help and mateship of rival teams.
The Endeavour Hills Junior Football Club has been inundated with support from clubs and community minded groups since a deliberately lit fire caused more than $40,000 damage to property and buildings at their Charles Green Reserve clubrooms.
And that support is set to continue on Tuesday night when both past and present AFL stars gather for a comedy-sportsman night to raise much needed money for the club.
Former Collingwood captain Tony Shaw will host the evening with auctions and prizes up for grabs.
Football secretary Russell Taylor said the assistance offered since the fire had enabled more than 250 young footballers to start their season as per usual a fortnight ago.
“Everyone has given us something to get us on the field.
“A lot of clubs have donated equipment and money to help us out,” Mr Taylor said.
The Dandenong and District Junior Football League (DDJFL) affiliated club had footballs, jumpers, training gear and an array of other equipment destroyed during the fire along with a building that doubles as the club’s scoreboard.
“Clubs have lent us jumpers, water bottles, goal post pads. Without their donations we wouldn’t be playing footy,” he said.
Football teams from as far away as Preston sent money and a concerned grandmother sent $50, along with her best wishes, to the club.
The Endeavour Hills Senior Citizens club also tipped in $300 after reading of the club’s plight.
Mr Taylor was also full of praise for the DDJFL and their help.
Doveton Football Club will host the event, free of charge, in their clubrooms and everyone else involved is donating their time for free, Mr Taylor said.
“We have Pommy Johnson (comedian) coming down. Everyone is really pulling together to help raise a dollar for the club.”
DDJFL football operations manager Glenn Finkelde said the league was delighted the wider football community had pulled together to help out a fellow club during hard times.
“As a league we would hope we wouldn’t have to do this sort of thing but we are equally delighted that clubs, not only from our league but other leagues, have helped Endeavour Hills out,” Mr Finkelde said.
“When it’s all said and done that’s what we are all about. It’s great the football community, particularly junior football, help each other out,” he said.
Narre Warren Detective Senior Sergeant Ian Wilcox said police were continuing with their investigations into the fire and asked anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Tickets for the fundraising night are $15 with all money going towards helping the Endeavour Hills Junior Football Club.
The event will take place on Tuesday, 15 May from 7.30pm at Doveton Football Club, Paperbark Street.
To book tickets phone Russell Taylor on 0418 532 740 or David Black on 0419 419 809.