COUNTDOWN IS ON FOR CHARITY RUGBY LEAGUE DAY

THE FOOTY SEASON MAY BE ENDING BUT THE TRUE GRAND FINAL DAY IS STILL TO COME.
Serious training has begun for local coalminers preparing for the 2017 A-Plus Contracting Hunter Valley Mining Charity Rugby League Knockout Competition in support of the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service.

Organised by the Singleton Volunteer Support Group, 350 local mining employees will make up the 18 teams who’ll represent their respective mines and compete in the day-long rugby league 10’s competition at Singleton’s Pirtek Park on October 7. 

This year, the local support group will welcome two new teams to the men’s competition from the Boggabri and Mudgee regions, with the Boggabri Bears and Moolarben Misfits. As well as the much-anticipated addition of a “Women of Mining Series” which will see 30 of the regions female miners hit it out in a best of three series.
 
2017 A-Plus Contracting Hunter Valley Mining Charity Rugby League Knockout Competition team line-up:
 
1. Austar Swamp Rats
2. Glendell Gladiators
3. Hunter Valley United Cobras
4. Maules Creek Maulers
5. MTW Barbarians 
6. Mount Thorley Warkworth Razorbacks
7. Mt Arthur Meerkats A
8. Mt Arthur Meerkats B
9. Ravensworth Rhinos
10. Rix's Creek Rattlesnakes
11. Saxonvale Raiders
12. Wambo Wolves
13. Werris Creek Wild Cats
14. Mt Owen Mustangs
15. Boggabri Coal
16. Moolarben Misfits
17. Valley Vixens (Ladies)
18. Hunter Hawkettes (Ladies)

Last year the charity day raised $60,000 for the Rescue Helicopter with more than 1,500 spectators, family and friends expected to turn out for this year’s event. Event Organiser, Danny Eather believes that this year’s competition is shaping up to be the best so far.

“With the addition of teams from Boggabri, Gunnedah and Mudgee, it is a true reflection of the how widespread the positive impact that the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service has on the Hunter, New England and Central West communities” said Mr. Eather.

“With the addition of the new AW139 helicopter aircraft, our communities have access to a world-class service which they will never have to pay whilst fundraising efforts such as Charity Rugby League Day are in existence and supported by the community” he added.   

The local business community has once again rallied to show its support with A-Plus Contracting, Pirtek, Mine Wealth & Wellbeing, Slater & Gordon, Minetek, Jennings Print, Betts Bowers Haulage and Hunter Isuzu Utes all signing on as major event partners. More than 80 additional businesses have sponsored the individual teams to help teams with their fundraising targets. Coal Services Mines Rescue, Group 21 Rugby League Referees Association and Singleton’s Rotary and Lions clubs are once again providing in-kind support and assistance throughout the day. 

Each year the Rescue Helicopter undertakes more than 1500 missions including transporting people from accident scenes, transferring critically ill patients between hospitals and undertaking search and rescue operations throughout Northern NSW. It is with the continued efforts of the Singleton Volunteer Support Group which ensures that no one has ever paid to be assisted by the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service.