WHEN news came through that a number of Phantoms players had relatives who had been affected by Cyclone Winston, the club sprung to action.
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The Phantoms Rugby club’s charity match on May 14 against the Waratahs generated more than $5000 to help Fijians affected by Cyclone Winston.
Phantoms club president Bart Challacombe said the club was thankful for the support from the community.
“Overall it is a cause that means a fair bit to our club,” Mr Challacombe said.
“We have a few Fijiian boys here who have relatives who were affected.
“It means a fair bit to our guys to help out.”
Donations came in from several local businesses, fans attending the game and the Waratahs contributed several hundred dollars they raised from their team and supporters.
Knowing the scale of the devastation, the Phantoms are continuing to help and encourage anyone interested to donate.
“There’s plenty of work to be done and 100 per cent of what we raise is going to those affected,” Mr Challacombe said.
The scale of the damage is unfathomable, leaving many villages completely decimated and locals with little more than the clothes on their backs.
Upon seeing the scale of the devastation, Leeton’s Garry Lanham wanted to do all he could to help.
“The village of Vidrala is where we’re doing most of the work,” Mr Lanham said.
“The reason we picked Vidrala is because it was totally written off and it is where some of our Phantoms players come from.”
The main source of income for the village had been farming coconuts which will take at least nine years to recover.
Isolated from the rest of the island by difficult terrain, access to the village is by boat which had been severely damaged in the cyclone.
Mr Lanham helped arrange a payment plan for a new motor for their boat and transportation of goods to the village had been reestablished, but there is still plenty of work to be done.
“We’ve got to keep it going and keep pushing it,” Mr Lanham said.
“They’re going to need a lot of support and every little bit helps.
“The problem is not going to go away.”