Sport
24 April, 2025
Commemoration and Celebration for Wattles
While Anzac Day will always highlight emotions of remembrance and reflection in our nation’s calendar, 2025 will see the special day also mark a celebration for Wattles Warriors Rugby League Club, centred on the official opening of the club’s newly installed lighting at Platz Oval within the Clifton Recreation Grounds.
The day will also feature three top shelf matches with Wattles Warriors up against the Highfields Eagles in the Toowoomba Rugby League Round 3 fixtures at Clifton.
While the rugby league on offer can be considered to be on a somewhat lesser page of the match day program behind the evening’s two very significant events, Warriors supporters are keen to see the three home teams continue their recent success.
Wattles President Amanda O’Halloran considers it a significant honour to be hosting the opening of the new lighting and the TRL Round 3 fixtures on Anzac Day.
Anzac Commemoration
Wattles committee has assembled an inspiring Anzac Day tribute commencing at 5.30pm recognising those who made the ultimate sacrifice in military conflict, and who have served in all aspects of military service.
The Wattles committee invites all past and present service men and women to take part in the Anzac parade that will include members of the 11th Light Horse Darling Downs troop.
The event will include a tent pegging demonstration and a display of vintage military wares by Bruce Gilbert.
‘Let There Be Light’
The ceremony to celebrate the flicking of the switch to officially light up the Platz Oval playing area with a state-of-the-art LED system valued at $360,000 gets underway at 5pm.
The lighting infra-structure upgrade will be officially opened by Member for Condamine Pat Weir, on behalf of Tim Mander, the Minister for Sport and Racing and Minister for the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Toowoomba Region Mayor Geoff McDonald will co-open the lighting.
Special guests will include Chief Executive Officer of Queensland Rugby League Mr Ben Ikin, and Councillors from the Toowoomba Regional Council.
The lighting has been erected by T2 Electrical & Data, with support from the Toowoomba Regional Council.
Déja Vu
The timing of the opening of the new lighting is quite coincidental, given the football oval’s initial lighting system was opened thirty years ago this month.
In April 1995 the Clifton Recreation Oval, which wasn’t known as Platz Oval until 2001, was officially lit up in its entirety.
The new lights on the Clifton Recreation Reserve were actually first used for the first time for TRL fixtures, on Saturday evening April 8th 1995, when Wattles clashed with Southern Suburbs Tigers.
Initially, two sets of lights were installed on the eastern side of the rugby league oval by the Clifton Shire Council in early 1994.
The installation allowed for a trotting track to be constructed around the Recreation Reserve arena.
The final bank of two lights on the western side was installed in February 1995 under the Rural Living Infrastructure Program grant at a cost to Council of $30,000.
Wattles President at the time Phil Muller recalled a night of great football, a big crowd and some hearty celebrations.
On field, Wattles’ first grade team celebrated the event by claiming a second consecutive victory from their initial two fixtures of the season, finishing ahead of Southern Suburbs 26-10.
While it was an evening to remember for the Kieran Guymer coached Wattles top grade outfit, it most certainly was for their gifted back Jason Denny who showed playing under lights was his forté, as he nailed a try hat trick.
The results weren’t as rosy in Wattles three lead up games, the Reserve Graders losing 14-22, Under 19s walloped 12-50 and Under 17 line-up finishing 4-28 behind.
Warriors Embarking on Eagle Hunt
In what will be a night of tremendous atmosphere, Warriors first grade Coach Travis Burns is focused on guiding his team to its third consecutive new season TRL fixture win at the expense of the Highfields Eagles.
However, his match plan drawing board has a gaping hole in the top-grade halves after the loss of classy five-eighth Dwayne Duncan.
Duncan has been served a three-match suspension from the TRL judiciary after being sent off in the team’s recent successful outing against the Oakey Bears.
He received his marching orders for his role in a half time melee, that also saw Bears’ hooker Joseph Eising cool his heels in the sin bin.
Wattles new halves pairing of Duncan and halfback Tom Hatch has more than met Coach Burns’ expectations, Duncan’s experience and attacking capability, and combination with Hatch, adding considerably to the arsenal.
While the coach grapples with the key team selection challenge, he is fiercely engrossed in the goal of a third consecutive win against Highfields.
On current early season standings, Wattles will start favourites in all three grades, however all Wattles’ mentors are well aware the Eagles are due.
Under 19 starts at 2pm, Reserves at 3.30pm and A Grade at 6.30pm.
- Glyn Rees
