Veteran stalwarts of “the game they play in heaven”, recently raised thousands for a wonderful local charity supporting newborn babies.

The traditional “big cheque” handover for the annual Wood Duck Cup, this year for $4200, was presented to representatives of the Orange Lions Club fundraising arm, “Give me Change for Kids” at Spring Hill Recreation Ground last week.

The money was raised at the fun and fabulous annual oldies rugby day event played between Orange Emus Rugby Club’s “Emulators Golden Oldies” over 35s side and the “Spring Hill Wood Ducks” in late September.

Emulators organiser, Clive Walker, explained that the games establishment came from a conversation held following an earlier fixture played at the villages of Barry and Neville south of Blayney.

“In the past, after that match, we used to stop off here for a meal or drink on the way home,” Clive said.

“Then Barry Winell said one time, ‘why don’t we organise a match here?’; that’s how it all started,” he added.

Since those early days, the event has grown into one of the major social and charity events on the local rugby calendar.

“Players provided an entertaining day of young and old rugby skills for the local Spring Hill and Orange crowd who contributed generously to the fundraising,” Clive recalled.

“Raffles, barbecues, and an auction were conducted on the day, and local donations were collected from the Spring Hill Hotel in the preceding weeks.”

The total raised was gratefully received by Orange Lions Club members at the cheque handover last week at the ground.

“All monies raised go towards purchasing medical equipment for children and premi-babes at Orange Health Service,” Clive explained.

“Funds this year are for the purchase of vein-finding machines for nurses working with premi-babes in their actual homes.”

The fun social event, Clive revealed, keeps growing every season in a match that is played out over a trophy consisting of a restored shooting gallery duck mounted on a beautiful walnut base.

“We’ve been going five or six years now, and radio presenter, Neil Gill, always does a lot of publicity for our event,” Clive said.

“We even got the juniors involved this year with an Under 12 match, so it’s getting bigger every year.” he concluded.