John Alexander (Bennelong, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

Last week I had the pleasure of joining netballer Anne Sargeant and footballer Andy Harper for the 50th anniversary dinner of the North Epping Rangers Sports Club. In 1962 local dad, John DeGioia, started a soccer club for seven- to nine-year-olds and, year by year, the club has kept growing. In 1966, club president Geoff Lee approached the Glasgow Rangers in Scotland for permission to use the Rangers name and logo, the rampant lion. He was successful and the locals began sewing uniforms. Around the same time, local mum Daphne Baker stood up at a club meeting and requested girls sports, and so North Epping Rangers began netball.

The club went on to incorporate tennis, Little Athletics and women's soccer. The club now boasts participation levels of over 900 four- to 64-year-olds and they have won too many premierships to mention. As with all clubs, volunteers are their backbone and there has been no shortage over the years. I acknowledge Helen Armson, James McNaughton, Joanne Colquhoun, Elyse Osbich and Barbara Brown for their long-term commitment to the local community. May those participation numbers continue to grow and may there be many more premierships for North Epping.

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