By TANIA PHILLIPS
COME down and lend a hand and meet some of Australia’s best-known sporting stars.
That’s the message from Tweed Heads Seagulls RLFC CEO Terry Keen and rugby league champion Paul ‘The Chief’ Harragon as they work to finish off the Seagulls Community Centre and Clubhouse at Piggabeen this week.
The Tooheys New Crew, led by rugby league champion Paul ‘The Chief’ Harragon will be joined by former New South Wales back-rower Bryan Fletcher, David Peachey and Footy Show personalities Fatty Vautin, Mario Fenech, Yvonne Sampson, Wally Lewis, Titans players and even a surfing world champ or two to complete the clubhouse.
“We need the locals to be out here!” Terry Keen said.
“This is not just for the club, this will be a community facility and function centre.”
The Tooheys New Crew, led by Paul Harragon, is a team of skilled professional tradies working with NSW communities to complete local building projects. This is the third project that the group has conducted in the area working on both the Cudgen Headland and Fingal Rovers Surf Clubs.
The crew is calling for locals over the age of 18 to come down to the Piggabeen Sports complex on Friday 8 and Saturday 9 August to help finish the renovations in time for Sunday’s benefit match for the Tweed Hospital Children’s Ward, between the Tweed Heads Seagulls and Norths Devils. Sunday will also see an official opening of the facility by Paul Harragon around lunch time.
The project has been in the works since 2010 and has come together with the support of the NSW Government and Tweed Shire Council.
The Chief said the club had contacted the Tooheys New Crew after their chances of playing in the Queensland State League Intrust Super Cup was put at risk because of their poor clubhouse facilities, the Tweed Heads Seagulls called on the Tooheys New Crew to build their organisation a good quality clubhouse and provide all members of the local community with a modern function venue to use.
The extensive project has seen a new clubhouse built from scratch. It will feature a new function room, storage area, modern canteen and an undercover area to ensure year-round spectator viewing.
Toohey’s New Crew head builder Paul Gillespie said there were plenty of jobs to be done ove the next few days.
“We will be painting, putting the gyprock in the roof, putting artificial grass on the concrete slab out the front of the clubhouse, a clean up around the building, building a disabled ramp, fitting and stocking the canteen, setting up the barbecue and assisting the plumbers and electricians (opening boxes etc),” he said, adding that there would be plenty of work for volunteers.
Club CEO Terry Keen says he’s looking forward to seeing the finished product.
“It’s taken more than a year to secure funding and great appreciation must go to the Tooheys New Crew, Tweed Shire Council, NSW State Government Community Building Program and the NRL,” he said.
“To have the Tooheys New Crew come onboard to manage the build has been an incredible help and our club would be in a bad way if it weren’t for their support” Mr Keen said.
Origin legend Bryan Fletcher will be hitting the tools with the Tooheys New Crew on Friday 8 August to assist with renovations.
Locals are also encouraged to join The Chief on Sunday 11 August when they officially hand back the completed renovation to the community. The official handover ceremony will be held at the clubhouse before the televised match between the Tweed Heads Seagulls and Norths Devils.
This will be the 32nd project the crew has built with NSW communities, with over $2 million invested since its inception in 2010. For more information visit www.tooheysnew.com
Who will be there: Paul ‘The Chief’ Harragon – Friday, Satuday and Sunday, David Peachey – Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Bryan Fletcher – Friday.
Footy show: Fatty – Friday, Mario Fenech – Saturday, Yvonne Sampson – Saturday, Wally Lewis – Saturday.
Titans and Surfers: Sunday.
