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Howard rescues Woodies
Article from: The Daily Telegraph
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegrap...001023,00.html
By Jon Geddes
November 22, 2007 12:00am
JUST days before the election, Prime Minister John Howard has come to the rescue of his local rugby club Eastwood after a financial crisis placed a dark cloud over its future.
The Woodies, a Sydney rugby institution, found themselves in trouble when major sponsor MHS Recruitment and Training went into liquidation owing the club $160,000 in sponsorship payments.
That meant Eastwood's senior sides and the huge junior nursery which produced Wallabies Matt Burke and Matt Dunning were under threat.
Club members were told bluntly in a letter: "It would be a tragedy if the club you have played for or have been associated with was simply to die because of this matter."
Eastwood coach Chris Hickey said that as soon as the situation arose the club received a call from the PM's office offering his assistance.
Howard, prospective Wallaby coach Alan Jones and former Test captain John Eales rallied to the cause, attending a function last Friday night which raised about $25,000. That sum has played a significant role in ensuring Eastwood's survival.
The PM's involvement could see him pick up some crucial votes from the local rugby fraternity this Saturday in his seat of Bennelong.
"Regardless of what your political colours might be, for him particularly in an election week, to make that time available and show his support for Eastwood rugby was terrific," Hickey said.
The backing from the locals should now enable the club to become debt-free by the middle of next month.
"We will be financially sound in 2008 and the rugby operation will be able to function in a professional manner as we have in previous years," he said.
"It will be business as usual."
The heavyweight trio each spoke passionately about club rugby.
Howard said clubs such as Eastwood were a really important part of the community structure.
"Some of the people determining the future of the game should really sit down and talk to a few people like John Eales and find out how important club rugby was to him," Hickey said.
"He thought it was an absolutely critical element in the game."
It would have been a disaster for rugby if Eastwood had gone under because they have about 1800 players aged from six to 16 in the fast-growing northwest corridor.
"It's really important for rugby to have a strong presence in this area of Sydney," Hickey said.
"A lot of people who live out here want to see their kids play rugby."
In a sobering message, Hickey pointed out that Eastwood's situation was not unique.
"Just about every club has been in the same boat," he said. "It might be Eastwood this year but it could be any other club next year.
"It just shows that club rugby is in a fairly precarious position and people need to be able to work out where it fits into the scene and a program to support club rugby.
"People need to be able to stand back a little and see the big picture, not just what will suit them at that time."
Was the wait worth it - Ya betta baby 
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