OLD Bar Pirates Rugby League Club has donated $39,000 to the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service,
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The money was raised at a memorial day for Joel Dark, conducted in May. Joel, 19, a club junior, died after sustaining a head knock playing for Central Charlestown in Newcastle in 2020. He was making his first grade debut with Central.
Old Bar players wore specifically designed jumpers for the memorial day held in conjunction with the opening round of the Group Three season on Saturday, May 1. The jumpers were auctioned that night, as were a number of other items while fund raising activities were carried out during the day.
The club made the presentation to Richard McGovern, the Mid North Coast regional partnerships officer with the Westpac Helicopter Service at the Pirates' annual award night.
Mr McGovern said the Mid North Coast Westpac team was 'blown away and humbled' by the donation from the Dark family and the Old Bar Pirates
"The community spirit that gets behind people in need is what makes a town like Old Bar," he added.
"It's really hard to know what's around the corner, so it's good to know we have these guys (Westpac) at arm's reach when they're needed,'' Kurt Dark, Joel's older brother, said.
"The amount of money that was being thrown around that night at the auction was unbelievable.''
Old Bar president Andrew Wilkes said the club hopes to make the memorial day an annual event, however, he said they will consult Joel's mum and dad, Narelle and Darrin, before a final decision is made.
Read more: Joel Dark Memorial Day at Old Bar
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