Tara Murray
The Footscray Rugby Union Club community has been left shattered after flooding caused by the Maribyrnong River destroyed their home away from home.
The club’s club rooms, which they have been in since the 1980s, were inundated by flood waters last Friday after the banks of the river burst.
For some clubs in the Footscray Park sports area, like the Footscray Cricket Club they were lucky, others like the rugby union club and the Western Crusaders Gridiron Club weren’t as fortunate.
Footscray Rugby Union Club president Charlie Sale said they were shattered.
“We got hit pretty hard,” he said.
“We were up there Saturday and Sunday and are still cleaning it out.
“It’s pretty sad as a lot of hard work, sweat and tears went into supporting the club and the rooms.”
Mr Sale said some memorabilia from the club had been destroyed in the floods, along with the club’s kitchen, and playing equipment and uniforms for their junior and senior sides.
The rooms being destroyed is likely the end of an era, with new rooms being built which are set to open in February.
Mr Sale said on Monday they were yet to check whether any damage had been done to those rooms.
He said any support from the community or possible sponsors would be appreciated as they tried to get back on their feet.
“We are Footscray and we’ve been underdogs for a long time,” he said.
“We’ve always managed to bite back and we will again this time.”
The Western Crusaders ground and facilities at Henry Turner Reserve were also impacted.
Committee member Tyson Garnham said on Sunday they were unsure how bad the damage was as they hadn’t been able to get into the rooms.
Footscray Cricket Club which is also located in the sports precinct were luckier.
President Geoff Collinson said it had missed their main facilities by a matter of metres.
“We are okay,” he said.
“It missed us by about five metres.
“Our club rooms are up on the high side.”
Footscray Rowing Club, Footscray Boat Club and the Footscray Canoe Club were also affected by the floods.
