Schoolboys volunteers – Chris Paton, Jason Ferrario and John McEwen.
Junee was filled with volunteers, players, coaches, managers, grandparents and supporters of junior rugby league at the 81st Riverina Schoolboys’ Football Carnival on Saturday. Games were played across 18 fields on Laurie Daley Oval, Loftus Oval, Junee Showground and even Burns Park, traditionally Junee Soccer fields!
143 teams were nominated, with 212 games of football kicking off at 9:00 am on a beautiful Winter morning, rare weather for the Schoolboys Football Carnival. 49 referees officiated on the day under the guidance of Tim Bailey, NRL Referee Development Officer. Group 9 and Group 20, traditionally program a general bye in both senior and junior rugby league draws for the Schoolboys Carnival. This not only allows their teams to participate but allows their officials, committee, referee mentors and first aid personnel to attend the carnival. This year we employed a Doctor and Nurse to support each team’s first aid personnel and they were well utilised.
The winners of the competitive age groups are as follows:
Under 16 Albury Thunder, Under 14 Leeton and Under 13 Leeton.
The Junee community has been behind the carnival since inception with volunteers and sponsors happy to continue promoting this event for junior sport for players aged from five to sixteen years. With a small voluntary committee, the number of volunteers swell on the day from community groups to individual people who like to see the carnival grow. Canteens were again outsourced providing great food across the day. Thank you to Junee Diesels, Junee Junior Rugby League, Junee Soccer Club, Junee Can Assist, Junee Lions Club and Junee RSL Sub-Branch. Junee Rotary Club and Junee Show Society also volunteer selling raffle tickets and manning the various gates.
Phil Cummins, Alex Deacon and Nick Lehmann organise field set ups with NSW Corrective Services providing inmates to assist with marking the fields, set up goalposts, goal pads and general cleaning up prior to and following the carnival.
New South Wales Rugby League’s Cody Hodge provided invaluable assistance and continuing support for our great carnival. When the NRLW was announced last year to be playing on carnival weekend, NSWRL stood behind our decision to continue the carnival rather than reschedule or cancel. Eight representatives from NSWRL attended from Sydney, Kiama, Bathurst, Canberra as well as Wagga representatives Sam Bramich and David Skinner supporting Cody Hodge.
This year ground announcing was officiated by Jason Ferrario another one of our many community-minded members.
The most asked question has been “what is the date for next year’s carnivals?” Which will be Saturday, 7 and Sunday, 8 August 2027.
The committee is most grateful to the Junee Shire Council office and outdoor staff, for their invaluable contribution to the carnival. We received a lot of comments from visitors regarding the amazing condition of the facilities and grounds.
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