Acclaim for rugby fee subsidy program

Wyong Leagues Group has been awarded the prestigious John Knipe Award in recognition of its registration fee subsidy program for young players.

The award is presented annually to a member club for an outstanding community or charitable initiative or project which promotes or serves charitable, sporting or humanitarian ideals to benefit the community either locally or further afield.

The 2024 John Knipe Award was presented at the recent Leagues Club Association annual conference held in Surfers Paradise.

Wyong Roos rugby league co-ordinator Belinda Hill accepted the award on behalf of Wyong Leagues Group, given in recognition of the 2024 Wyong Leagues Group Junior Rugby League Subsidy program.

It is a program that provides a $100 subsidy toward registration fees for players aged five to 13 to help families across the Central Coast with the cost while also boosting player numbers.

Following success of the 2024 program, Wyong Leagues Group has announced it will continue the subsidy program for the 2025 season.

The John Knipe Award is named in honour of a former life member and patron of the Leagues Club Association, an individual who worked tirelessly to get his Cessnock Leagues Club up and running.

He was the Club’s long serving manager, as well as Board member, and also served on Cessnock City Council.

The award was so named in memory of Knipe’s dedication and tireless efforts on behalf of his community.