The Riverina Schoolboy’s Football Carnival celebrated its 80th event on Saturday, August 2, across many different sports grounds in town. It was a footy fiesta with 155 teams competing on the day with over 230 games officiated by close to 70 referees. The Riverina League Tag Carnival, run by Junee Junior rugby League, was held the following day with 60 teams in attendance.
The carnival has been popular in the region and remains part of the region’s sporting history, with many former NRL players competing in their younger days. Legendary Junee boy, Laurie Daley, on his first go at the carnival in 1976 won his first pennant in the under 7s.
The carnival continues to inspire many young players to continue the game and hone their skills and a good opportunity for our young referees to gain experience. Not only a good day for the players, but the community too as it brings in plenty of visitors to town and boasts great success for its canteens on the day.
Maree Allamby has been overseeing the Carnival for a number of years and was proud to call this year another success. “We ended up adding an extra ground to cater for our under 6’s. Instead of 17, we had 18 grounds over the four areas, Laurie Daley Oval, Loftus Oval, Burns Park and the Showground with only one send off for the day. The crowd’s behaviour was exemplary and our canteens were well supported, with feedback praising the players for their good manners. We handed the canteens back to the ground user groups (Diesels, Junior League, Soccer Club with CanAssist, Junee Lions and Junee RSL Sub-Branch) last year and we found it’s been very successful,”she said. “Special thanks to the Junee Soccer Club for accommodating the carnival as their junior and senior games were all transferred to Wagga Ovals, so we could use the grounds both on Saturday for our carnival and Sunday for the league tag carnival. It’s a very community-minded event.
“Steph Cooke, MP, pressed the button to officially start the 2025 carnival and launch our booklet,‘More than a Game: A Riverina Tradition’. Michael McCormack MP, also a former player at the carnival, was an apology due to prior commitments and logistics to get back to Junee. Wiradjuri Rabbs Entertainment was guest commentator for the day guided by Jason Ferrario, who has been called upon to fill the position on earlier occasions.
“We’ve received a lot of feedback from the clubs saying that it was good to see the smiles on the kids’ faces. We did have a couple of injuries, but thankfully we had great outcomes, one player had an operation on their elbow and the other player walked out of the hospital after a scare of a possible neck injury.
“We couldn’t have done it without support from New South Wales Rugby League staff, David Skinner, Cody Hodge, and team with a total of nine NSWRL staff and three NRL staff, some travelling from as far as Orange and Sydney. Tim Bailey is the NRL Referee Development Officer and oversees the referees at the carnival, coordinating the games. Our local community has all supported the carnival. Our sponsors have believed in the carnival, community groups have offered assistance – Rotary and Show Society manning the gates, Junee Harness Racing Club, Illabo Show Society and local schools have lent equipment, defibrillators from Junee Tennis Club and Lions Club to name a few. Then we have individuals not associated with any group in particular who offer to help. It’s just a community event.
“Our committee is only a small one with only nine members, but we all worked together to make it work.
“Junee Shire Council support for the carnival is more than having the grounds prepared for the event. We have worked closely with management and staff to ensure we have a successful carnival. Corrective Services NSW also lent a hand with field marking, setting up and then packing away goal posts, marquees and goalpost pads.
“I was worried when I woke up to light rain, but it didn’t last and the day ended on a splendid note with the last hooter at 4:30pm for the last six games.”
The Junee Carnival continues to be a solid representation of the spirit and fun of sport in regional communities. The winners of the competitive age groups are as follows:
Under 13 Pool A – Leeton with three win
Under 13 Pool B – Albury with three wins
Under 14 – Leeton with four wins
Under 15 – Albury with three wins
Under 16 – Wagga Magpies with a win and a draw (only three teams entered)
– Jack Murray
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