Geelong Rangers to celebrate 7 decades

THIS year marks seven decades of the Geelong Rangers Football Club, a milestone they will celebrate with a night of memories and laughter.

To mark the occasion, the club will hold a 70th anniversary celebration dinner on June 21, their second event in honour of their history.

The club was founded in 1955 by three people and since then has gone through a number of name changes, evolving and growing over the years to include more teams and different age groups.

One of the original founders John Barr, is still around the club today, often heading down to watch games.

“This is an important milestone for Geelong and it should be celebrated,” Geelong Rangers Football Club president Martin Brandwyk said.

“One of our founding members John Barr… he will be at the dinner and I think that is just a comment that the person who started the club is actually still part of the club 70 years later.”

Mr Brandwyk said they held their first event back in March, where they celebrated their first home game of the season.

 

“That was our introduction to the 70th, it was our first home game and we had very much a 70th event family day, bring the kids, all the old people that may be not have been for many, many years come along.

“That was quite a big event and then the dinner is the second, more formal event.”

Mr Brandwyk was made president this year, however, has been a member for around 15 years and said the biggest change in his time has been the number of people joining the club.

“It’s evolved into the juniors growing massively, juniors were quite small 15 years ago, but they have probably quadrupled in numbers.

“And I think back 15 years ago, there was probably one girl in the club, one female player, now we have probably 70 or 80.”

Mr Brandwyk said the club also now has a lot more volunteers involved and committee members, becoming a community-minded and family-friendly club.

The 70th Anniversary Celebration Dinner will be held at the Batesford Hotel from 7pm.

For tickets and more information, head to geelongrangersfc.majestri.com.au