Philip Tsourlinis
19 June 2023, 9:04 PM
On the weekend, the Lismore Swans Juniors Football Club wore the Singleton Football Club Guernsey as a mark of respect to the Hunter Valley community.
The Hunter Valley and broader Australian community have been left saddened and shocked at the terrible news of multiple fatalities involving a bus carrying 35 passengers, which overturned when travelling to Singleton from a wedding at winery Wandin Estate.
During Sunday's round of Australian Rules Football at Mortimer Oval in Lismore, all players wore the Singleton Roosters Football Club Guernsey, donated to the Swans after the 2022 flooding natural disaster.
Lismore Swans Committee member Nicholas McQuilty, President of the Swans in 2022, said it was a tribute the Swans had no hesitation in providing.
"During our darkest times after the 2022 flooding natural disaster, we lost many essential club items, which included damage to our Juniors guernseys," he said.
"We received donated guernseys from the Singleton Roosters Football Club, which the Juniors wore at training and for some football games."
"So it was only natural that we donned the Singleton Roosters guernseys again to show respect to those affected in the Hunter Valley bus tragedy."
Mr McQuilty said visiting teams at Mortimer Oval on the weekend also donned the Roosters Guernsey.
"The Swans under 9's played the Ballina Bombers, who, after the game, also changed into the Roosters guernsey as a sign of unity in their support," he said.
"As did the Girls Under 13's Northern Rivers Representative team and their opponents, the Burleigh Bombers."
Lismore Swans Under 9's player Reuben said the Rooster Guernsey means much to him.
"I have kept the Roosters Guernsey in my cupboard and often wear it when I practice playing footy with my mum, dad and little brother at the park," he said.
"Thanks for donating this to us when we needed it, Roosters."
Lismore player Katrina, who played in the Under 13's Representative side against Burleigh Bombers, said it was the least they could do.
"The Roosters helped us when we needed it, so I wish there were more we could do for them," she said.