By Casey O'Connor
Years after leaving his home town of Stanthorpe, Troy Colley is excited to show his gratitude to the Gremlins Rugby League Club where he played and learned many life lessons and to the town he grew up in.
Colley is the instigator of the upcoming Redlands4Stanthorpe Rugby League Carnival which will see visiting footballers and their families descend on the Sullivan Oval precinct on March 14,
Colley who left the district over 30 years ago is these days heavily involved in the Redland Rugby League club where he coaches his son’s Under 12 side.
He sees this as an opportunity give back to the people, club and town that supported him as a Gremlins junior player and hopes it is a double sided sword.
Not only a great opportunity for the teams and players involved but Colley also hopes the influx of unfamiliar faces will inject some money into the area’s economy.
Colley floated his idea with Redlands President Todd Flahey late last year and then discussed it with Gremlins President Lindsay Adams and Vice President Mitch Hurtz. As they say in the classics, “the rest is history”.
Well not quite. There has been a lot of planning and organising as the idea grew legs.
While final numbers are yet to be confirmed, it is anticipated around 300 players will be involved. As well as the Redland’s teams, the Tenterfield Tigers A Grade side is on board and will return to Sullivan Oval for a trial game. There will also be junior teams, two ladies league tag teams and an open women’s side playing.
As a way of giving back and supporting his home town. Colley has also arranged for the delivery of 7000 litres of water in March. The water will be purchased locally and money has been raised from donations, a GoFundMe page and a fun run in the Redlands area.
Colley hopes it will remind people in the district who are doing it tough and need a hand up that people out there are thinking of them and doing what they can to help out.
It is obvious that the Gremlin spirit runs deep.
For more information and advertising inquires visit Redlands4Stanthorpe Rugby League Carnival on Facebook.
