Gloucester Clubhouse opening
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SportsTranscript
00:00 I'm Jamie Searle, President of the Gloucester Rugby Union Club.
00:04 Today is a really special day for the club.
00:07 We've had our home game, Ladies Day,
00:10 we've got the War Hope Thunder.
00:12 War Hope!
00:14 You know, I live in downtown War Hope, I live in Sandcroft,
00:17 and I see you guys all the time, training and...
00:21 You're that guy.
00:22 That guy, yeah.
00:24 We have the Foster Dolphins, men and women,
00:29 and of course our Gloucester girls ran out there today and had a good victory.
00:33 But the main event is later on this opening, this building behind us.
00:38 Tonight, we have the Honourable Dr David Gillespie here
00:42 to help us with that process.
00:45 Thanks very much.
00:46 Well, it's a really pleasant duty to come here
00:49 for the opening of something that's had a very long gestation.
00:52 I'd like to say to all my fellow War Hopeans,
00:57 we moved to War Hope in '93,
01:00 we couldn't come to Gloucester,
01:02 but I've been here an awful lot since I've been back in a different role,
01:07 rather than being a medico.
01:08 But it's great to see rugby flourishing, particularly with the girls.
01:13 Rugby was way too good just to...
01:17 leave it as the preserve of the male of the species,
01:20 so it's great that girls have discovered it,
01:22 just like AFL and Rugby League and all these things,
01:26 and soccer, you name it.
01:28 So go the girls.
01:29 (CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
01:32 But to everyone, yourself, Jamie, Chris, Peter,
01:37 everyone that has persisted and managed to keep the core of the money intact
01:45 to get this wonderful facility built,
01:47 I really congratulate you.
01:49 (INDISTINCT CHATTER)
01:50 The money...and the money raised was four years ago.
01:52 We, with the local sports council, got hold of a grant
01:56 through a federal government initiative,
01:59 and we're lucky to get about $250,000.
02:02 And behind me is the result of that, the result of that process.
02:07 And, yeah, we're looking forward to it,
02:09 not only for the Rugby Union, but for the cricketers,
02:12 and a really good community space for a lot of people to all enjoy
02:17 and help, yeah, bring this community a bit closer together.
02:21 A lot of people put in a lot of volunteer time, believe it or not,
02:25 and this doesn't come together just like that.
02:28 But there's one person that,
02:30 when I first witnessed what's happened with the club,
02:34 that joined the club and became president many, many years ago.
02:37 What, four years ago now, Jamie? You became president?
02:40 And, honestly, the club needed Jamie to come along,
02:43 and he's done a tremendous amount of work in the background.
02:47 He runs a massive cattle farm and does all these other things,
02:50 and he's not real good at that, but he's good at the rugby stuff.
02:56 We had this plaque specially made for Jamie,
03:00 and I'll tell you what it says.
03:02 It says, "The James Dunlop Searle Shield,
03:05 "Hardyards Award for dedication to Gloucester Rugby Union,"
03:09 and it will be given to a person who contributes to the club every year.
03:13 (CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
03:15 Jamie!
03:20 You know, once you become a rugby player,
03:22 you've got a home all over the world,
03:24 and that's what rugby's all about.
03:26 But, anyway, thanks, guys.
03:28 (CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
03:30 [BLANK_AUDIO]