NSW Club of the Week: Kellyville Rouse Hill
The instigator of this movement was local junior AFL legend Warren ‘Pops’ Quintrell who, with the blessing of the Northside Association and the Baulkham Hills Falcons, recruited several ex-Parramatta Goannas who lived in the Kellyville/Rouse Hill area to start up the first committee.
After several lengthy meetings at the Mean Fiddler Inn at Rouse Hill, the club was up and running. Regular committee meetings are held on the third Monday of each month now down the road at the Ettamogah Pub in Stanhope Gardens.
Those that serve the club come from a wide range of backgrounds and have bonded to become great mates and to create a club that has the potential to be one of the biggest junior clubs in Sydney over the next 10 years.
Mike Thompson is the Communication Coordinator for the club and has been a coach at the club since joining in 2005.
“Since moving to Sydney from Melbourne in 2005, I have witnessed a significant growth of a club that back then consisted of 19 Auskick participant,s one Under-9s team and one Under-10s side,” Thompson said.
“It’s now a club that now boasts over 300 club members, including in excess of 100 Auskick participants and 19 teams from Under-9s to Under-16s and our very first youth girls side who have created history this year for our club.
“I have witnessed our club committee grow in strength with a sound structure to ensure that the running of the club is not left to a select few, but rather spread between many.”
The club has grown exponentially in the past five years and a move to Bruce Purser Reserve in 2009 has meant the juniors play on a first-class service with excellent change-room facilities.
The club has had many of their members go on to play representative football including PSSA, CHS and GSJ Reps, Western Sydney Pioneers and recently GIANTS Academy.
One former club junior, Matthew Eastman, was also recently selected to play for NSW /ACT Rams Under-18s side.
Thompson said he is most proud of the culture of the club.
“The people of our club and the culture that has been created is simply amazing,” he said.
“We have a proactive committee who continue to look at ways of further development within the club.
“Our club participates at local school fetes at Rouse Hill Public School, makes donations to local High Schools and we have also partnered with the Kids With Cancer Foundation.”
“We want to continue to meet our vision: ‘To develop and grow AFL within our Club and community in a safe, friendly and enjoyable environment’ and become the sport of choice for families within the area.”