BUSINESS SUPPORT: Orange mayor John Davis, Waratahs board member Steve Ryan and Australia Day ambassador John Watkins. Photo: LUKE SCHUYLER 0126lsoz27
THE Waratah Sports Club won the 2013 Business Support Award at this year’s Australia Day Sports Awards ceremony at Cook Park on Saturday.
Accepted by board member Steve Ryan, the Business Support Award recognises the valuable contribution local business provides the community either through promotion or sponsorship of sport.
The Waratahs club does this in bucket loads.
A major contributor to the Orange community since its establishment, the club is called home by Waratah Soccer Club (junior and senior), Orange City Rugby Club (junior and senior), Orange Little Athletics, Waratahs Rugby Club, Waratahs Cricket Club and the Orange District Kennel and Obedience Club.
The club has also played host to and played an important role in attracting major sporting events to Orange, including state Little Athletics championships and school soccer championships to name a few, and the Blowes Clothing Cup grand final day last winter.
In recent years the club has also played host to successful community events such as the Orange Relay for Life and New Year’s Eve celebrations.
Waratahs also regularly hosts schools for a wide variety of sporting events.