On Saturday, March 7, 2020, Bellingen Park Football Oval will become a battleground when the Army Thunder Rugby League Team comes to town to take on the Bellingen Magpies in the 12th Annual Sergeant Matthew Locke MG Charity Match.
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The game is a headliner with a full day of rugby league action and is played with a level of passion and tenacity that has become sporting legend.
The game is played in honour of SGT Matthew Locke MG who was born and raised in the Bellingen area.
Matthew Locke was awarded the Medal of Gallantry for selfless bravery that undoubtedly saved the lives of his mates during operations in Uruzgan Province, Afghanistan, during in 2006.
He was serving with the elite Special Air Service Regiment (SAS) at the time.
A year later Matthew was killed in action by enemy small arms fire on another tour of duty in Afghanistan.
In 2008, members of the Locke family, primarily Matthew's sister Debbie, set up a charity to help keep her brothers memory alive and called it the Grub Club.
The charity is aimed at assisting disadvantaged children and originally directed their efforts at Afghanistan, however, they now focus on Timor Leste. The charity has built three kindergartens, a number of classrooms and has also been behind training teachers and providing educational supplies.
Debbie Locke says the intent is eventually to have the charity self-sustaining through generating income from both a fish and chicken farm they have established in Timor Leste.
The charity is currently working on developing small business skills in-country that will eventually see the Grub Club no longer require outside donations to sustain its work in childhood education in Timor Leste.
Proceeds from the SGT Matthew Locke MG Charity Match and associated events will go towards the Grub Club, the veterans' charity known as Soldier On and the Tyringham Rural Fire Service.
The gates at Bellingen Park will open at 11am.
A number of great and entertaining rugby league games will be played in the lead-up to the main event - Army Thunder versus The Bellingen Magpies.
Such is the notoriety of this event that the Governor General of Australia, His Excellency General the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Retd) will be there to present the Shield to the winning side.
The Australian Army Band will be in attendance for the halftime entertainment and also to play the national anthem.
The band will also perform a concert on Sunday, March 8, 2020, at CEX Coffs Harbour, 11am till 1pm, with proceeds going to the Grub Club charity.
In association with this event, there is also the SGT Matthew Locke MG Golf Day held on Friday, March 6, 2020.
This is a four man Ambrose game held at the Bellingen Golf Club with an 8.15am breakfast for 9am shotgun start.
Entry is $160 per team.
All proceeds from the golf day also going to Soldier On, Grub Club and Tyringham RFS.
To register a team call Bellingen Golf Club on 02 6655 1312.
Whatever you do, don't miss out on the 12th Annual SGT Matthew Locke MG Charity Match on Saturday, March 7, 2020, at the Bellingen Park Football Oval which has become an action-packed staple on the Mid North Coast sporting calendar.
It is an event that brings the community together to raise funds for a great cause while remembering one of our own who paid the ultimate sacrifice in the service of his country.
The event is proudly supported by the Bellingen Shire Council and CEX Coffs Harbour.
About the author: Mick Birtles is a retired army officer now living in Nambucca Heads.
During his 36-year career, Birtles served in Bougainville, East Timor, Iraq and Afghanistan and was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for command and leadership.
Here he shares his interest in the welfare and well-being of veterans on the Mid North Coast.