Bathurst Giants win $45,000 Volkswagen Golf Alltrack as part of grassroots funding program
Mark Kennedy, Scott Traves and Sydney Swans legend Nick Davis with the Volkswagen Golf Alltrack. (Photo Chris Seabrook)
Originally published by the Western Advocate.
One day while Bathurst Giants player Scott Traves was watching the footy on TV he decided to submit an application to the Sydney Swans’ 2019 Volkswagen Grassroots Grants program.
There was even the slim chance to win the major prize of a $45,000 Volkswagen Golf Alltrack.
Sydney Swans legend Nick Davis arrived in Bathurst on Monday to present the Giants with their new Volkswagen, and took time out to run a half hour clinic with the club’s juniors.
Traves couldn’t believe the news when he received the message his application had won the major prize.
“I’m a fan of the Swans and I have their app on my phone. I saw the grassroots program notification come through and I thought I’d give it a crack. Simple as that,” he said.
“Just recently I got the email back saying I’d won and I couldn’t believe it. I rang Swans reception to see if the person who sent me the message worked there.
“They said ‘Yep. They’re part of our grassroots program’ and that’s when I said ‘Oh, this is really happening’.”
Claiming the top prize in the program marks a significant day in the Giants’ short history.
Traves is hopeful it can take the club on to bigger and better things in the future.
“It’s going to help us out immensely. We only started out five years ago and we’ve been making ends meet. It’s a big boost for us,” he said.
“This is unbelievable. You always hear about these competitions and grants that are going on and somebody’s got to win it but you never think that it’s going to be you or somebody you know.
“It’s great having Nick Davis, hero of the Sydney Swans, here and it’s been a wonderful afternoon. It’s a great program they’ve put together with Volkswagen.”
Davis is certainly a man worthy of wearing that ‘hero’ tag for the red and white.
He’s best remembered for his four-goal performance in the final quarter of the 2005 semi-final against Geelong to lead a comeback victory. Swans would ultimately go on to win the title.
Davis was happy to make the journey west to present the Giants with their special prize.
“Out of season it’s great seeing the kids still out here kicking the footy around, and on behalf of the Swans and Volkswagen it’s great to bring this car out to the club,” he said.
“Giants are a young club looking to develop juniors and we’re really happy to help them.”
