Central Newcastle Rugby League Club

25 September 2024

Ms JODIE HARRISON (Charlestown—Minister for Women, Minister for Seniors, and Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault) (21:32): They will be talking about this one for years. Let me set the scene. It is a beautiful spring Sunday afternoon and there is a faithful crowd at Charlestown's St John Oval. The teams take the field. For 80 minutes of the match the lead goes back and forth. In the end, the game is decided by a try in the closing seconds. It has been called a thriller. It has been called a nail-biter. I call it well deserved. The mighty Central Newcastle Rugby League Club—the mighty Butcher Boys—triumphed 30-20 over The Entrance in the preliminary finals last Sunday. They have broken the drought. After 61 years, the Butcher Boys are going to the grand final! My congratulations to coach Adam Betteridge, captain Cameron "Spider" Anderson, the players who took the field—with a special shout-out to Travhon Lemalama for that last‑minute blinder—and all the officials, volunteers and supporters who made the day so special. What a fantastic game—an all-timer for the 114-year-old club. The grand final is at McDonald Jones Stadium this Sunday—I will be there—against the Maitland Pickers. Go Butcher Boys!

The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Mr Jason Li): I can feel the excitement!

A Community Recognition Notice is an opportunity for an MP to submit a short statement praising the work of an individual or group in the local community. If you have any ideas about people I can recognise with a Community Recognition Notice, please email and let me know!