Raymond Terrace playing fields devastated by unknown driver

IT was a rough awakening for sports clubs members at Raymond Terrace’s Lakeside Sporting Complex, who discovered that someone had driven a car on the playing fields overnight, significantly damaging them.

“We’ve had motorbikes coming into our fields years ago,” Raymond Terrace Roosters President Craig Langdon told News of the Area, “and the West Ward Councillors gave us a grant to put up a fence.”

Unfortunately, this time the fence was not enough to stop the vehicle that smashed through it, ripping up dirt and crashing into a goal post before disappearing.

Port Stephens Council staff and Raymond Terrace Police promptly arrived on the scene.

While the perpetrator is still unknown, investigations are under way, as well as efforts to quickly resolve the situation for the clubs.

The timing of this act of vandalism could not have been more unfortunate, as the Raymond Terrace Roosters and Raymond Terrace Magpies junior teams have been preparing for their finals games.

As a silver lining, Mr Langdon said that he was overjoyed at the outpouring of support that the Roosters club received from the community, and deeply grateful to Council and police for their quick responses.

“We’ve been inundated with calls from other clubs offering their fields to help our kids train,” he commented. “Both our senior clubs have reached out to us to offer their assistance as well.”

The cost of the necessary repairs will ultimately fall on the clubs themselves, putting extra strain on all the volunteers running the clubs and facilities.

Mr Langdon encouraged community members willing to show support to contact the club, and to look out for the fundraiser hosted at the Raymond Terrace Bowling Club on Saturday 29 August.

“We will rebuild, we will get on with it through the support of our community,” he concluded.

By Nico LOMBARDO