New club house a home for Raiders gang /Newsport



New club house a home for Raiders gang

Friday March 14 2014

A committed group of volunteers at Port Douglas Rugby club will celebrate the official opening of their club house this weekend.

The new building means the Reef Raiders will no longer be consigned to sharing facilities with neighbouring Aussie Rules team, the Crocs.

Raiders life member, Shane Branch, said a host of tradespeople and businesses had generously donated goods and services to help build the club house.

"We don't actually owe any money on the building," Mr Branch said.

"It's a very good position to be in, especially for a local sporting club."

The club raised $27,000 to buy a portable building by selling individual bricks in the club house for $1,000 each.

A plaque will be placed on each brick, Mr Branch said, acknowledging individual donations.

Additional rendering, plastering and plumbing was all done for free.

Mr Branch said the club had banded together to find the necessary white goods and sporting paraphernalia to complete the project.

"We've done very well with things falling into place," he said.

"We picked up a bar fridge from a restaurant being demolished for not too much.

"The honour board's been donated and sports memorabilia has been given to us as well.

"It's pretty phenonemal really."

The Reef Raiders will play the Northern Beaches Mudcrabs at the Port Douglas Sporting Complex on Saturday at 5pm.