Picture: TODD LEWIS
NANGWARRY Football Netball Club members have vowed to carry-on, despite a suspicious fire destroying their clubrooms overnight Wednesday.
Despite not winning an A Grade game in four years, the club’s committee had been optimistic about what 2019 had in store.
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However, at about 11.30pm on Wednesday evening, a sporting club which has faced it’s fair share of challenges in recent time, was dealt it’s most devastating blow.
“I am absolutely devastated and that is as mildly as I can put it,” Nangwarry football legend and current treasurer Kevin Dennison , pictured above, said.
“I am just numb.”
The damage caused by the fire is estimated at $500,000 with the building completely destroyed along with everything inside.
When alerted of news the clubrooms were up in flames, Mr Dinnison was left heartbroken knowing all that would be lost.
“The building hopefully can be replaced, but the memorabilia is the most devastating part because there are things in there that just cannot be replaced,” he said.
“The thing that really hurts are the pictures of the old presidents and the four large premiership photographs in the club.
“They were the talking points of the club and we will try to replace them, but I just do not know how.”
Having been involved at the club for over 50 years, Mr Dinnison said he was confident Wednesday’s fire was just another set-back that will make the Nangwarry Saints stronger.
“This will not knock us down, we will get up again, it’s just going to take time, but I am positive we will get through,” he said.
“We have had tremendous support already from the South East community.”
While the initial devastation caused by the blaze is admittedly taking it’s toll, secretary Tamara Ploenges echoed her colleagues sentiments, stating the “show must go on”, starting with training next Tuesday.
“I cried – this is where I spend my Saturdays, so of course it has really hit home,” she said.
“You do ask yourself ‘where do we go from here?’, but training will go ahead on Tuesday and we will find somewhere else to go on a Saturday night in the interim.”
As the community continued to come to terms with the fire, Ms Ploenges was most thankful no-one was hurt.
“It is a building that held many memories and treasures, but it is just a building, it’s not a life,” she said.
The Nangwarry community is driven by a hope for future success for the football club and Ms Ploenges said she was proud to live among such incredible people.
However, she would not shy away from the fact their was potentially a fire bug living in their community.
“I went to bed last night hoping this was an accident because I really do not want to live among someone who is capable of doing something like this,” she said.
“But if it is deliberate, I’m not going to let this person win – the easy option is to move elsewhere, but I have been living here for the last 36 years and I plan to be here for the next 36.”
While this week’s blaze is perhaps the lowest point in the club’s 54-year history, Ms Ploenges knows a special day is on the horizon.
“Our aim at the start of 2019 was to win a game and I imagine that game we do win will be like winnivwng a premiership,” Ms Ploenges said.
Mr Dinnison looks forward to that day.
“It will not matter if we have a clubrooms, people will be there, it will be big celebration,” he said.
