TODAY, Saturday, November 4, 2023, a date which will live in infamy, the Fish Creek Football Netball Club was suddenly and deliberately attacked by thieves, vandals and arsonists who wilfully destroyed 120 years of history.
However, as devastating as it was for club greats like Wayne Weiderman, who called early in the morning from Adelaide, club stalwarts like former president Lou Seuren, who watched the salvage effort this afternoon, and 2023 co-captain Jack Hayes, who played a prominent role in Fishy’s recent premiership; the club has already declared it will “come back bigger and better”.
It's big call given that so much has been lost and so much has already been won, over the years, 37 premierships no less.
But at a hastily convened meeting at the Fish Creek Pub this afternoon, after many had already surveyed the devastation, co-club presidents Nick Shaw and Ray Stefani declared the fightback was on.
“The number of messages of support we have received has been incredible and there’s already been an appeal launched on GoFundMe,” said Ray.
“A former player has just called me making a $20,000 donation to get us started. It’s gut-wrenching. It means so much to people. It’s hard but we’ll come back from this,” he declared.
Already almost $40,000 has been raised on the GoFundMe page: “Please Help Our Wonderful Club Start to Re-Build”.
The GoFundMe page provided the disturbing context:
“In the early hours of this morning, November 4, 2023, our club rooms were burnt to the ground deliberately.
“Our club and community are gutted by this senseless act of violence.
“We have lost over a hundred years of memorabilia, photos, trophies, honour boards, flags etc.
“Our club rooms have hosted so many celebrations from spectacular grand final wins to 21sts, weddings and many funerals.
“It has been the hub of the Fish Creek community for so very many years.
“It will take years for us to re-build and we need to have something in place, even if temporary, to get us moving again for the next season.
“Any help will be so gratefully received.”
If you can help, go to: https://www.gofundme.com/f/our-wonderful-club-start-to-rebuild