The reach of rugby league spreads far and wide.
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Take Nazareth House in Tamworth as a fine example.
The aged care facility has been running a successful NRL tipping competition for the past few years.
And on the eve of the new season, Nazareth House’s rugby league aficionado’s came together for an opening day which featured a special appearance by members of the Men of League’s Tamworth sub-committee.
President Kevin Robinson said the seeds for this visit were planted by a previous appearance late last year.
“In November we found out there were two guys here who were mad football supporters, and one vivid Parramatta supporter,” Robinson said.
“So Neville Glover came up for the day and after that, Leanda (Greacen) the lady in charge here asked us if we would like to come to the opening of their tipping competition.”
About 30 residents took part of the Men of League officials staged a popular trivia contest, had a bite to eat and some quiet drinks.
“All of these people go into the tipping competition each year and I’m told some are great tipsters,” he said.
“We had half a dozen guys who have come up today, we’re giving out some memorabilia, promotional stuff, a few knick-knacks.
“It is about giving a little present to each person here and everyone’s been enjoying themselves.”
The trivia event was a smash hit, with one resident in particular catching the eye of Robinson.
“Old Vic Duncan, he was one of the blokes we visited last November,” he said.
“He’s just answered seven questions on rugby league, he’s an old referee, so no wonder he’s right.
“It’s great to come here and give them a bit of a lift.”
The Men of League foundation was established in 2002 to assist men, women and children associated with the game of Rugby League.
All funds raised by Men of League go to charity, with operational costs covered by the NRL.
The Tamworth sub-committee comes under the banner of the North West chapter, which embarked on a restructure in 2012 as Robinson explained.
“I was reading in the (Men of League) magazine articles and there was nothing about Tamworth,” he said. “So I made some enquiries and it had dropped off a bit.
“I got in contact with Sydney, who said they were going to have a meeting at Gunnedah and we got together to make a North West committee, with five sub-committees based in Tamworth, Gunnedah, Manilla, Narrabri and Moree.
“We now have a function as a fundraiser every 12 months and we’ve raised about $30,000 in the past few years.”
