HUNDREDS of children screamed themselves hoarse as they practised their welcome for the Wallabies at Ashwood Park yesterday afternoon.
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They came from schools all over Bathurst and a huge contingent had travelled all the way from Mudgee.
The children formed a massive guard of honour several layers deep that stretched from the front gate all the way to the playing fields.
They waited and they cheered as officials and coaches stalked their lines, getting them to shape up as they chanted “Wallabies, Wallabies, Wallabies” over and over. The group was made up of children from the Bathurst Bulldogs, the Bathurst Burrs, the Mudgee Wombats, The Assumption School and All Saints’ College.
When they arrived, these giants of men moved easily through the throng towards the sidelines, where they
prepared to take the field for a 90-minute training session.
This was followed by a meet-and-greet with fans, with the players making their way along the sidelines signing autographs and posing for photos.
Then it was back down to business as they conducted training clinics with both junior and senior players.
The England family was among those waiting to see their heroes. Tristian, 11, and Mitchell, 8, were there with their mum Sharon.
She said the boys play rugby and were very excited about coming down to see the Wallabies.
“They have played since they were five,” she said.
Jonathan Price, 4, and his sister Chelsea, 6, love their rugby, with Jonathan saying he wants to play for Australia when he grows up. Their dad Kevin used to play schoolboy rugby, but they said it was a friend’s influence that got them hooked on the code.
They came and watched him play one weekend and then kept going back.
“I think it’s fantastic that a team like the Wallabies came to the country because it raises awareness of the game,” Mr Price said. “It gives kids something to work towards.”
There was also a healthy representation of young women eager to see the Wallabies in action.
Year 12 students Bethany Moore, Eilish Heffernan and Jessica Brennan were on a study break from MacKillop College yesterday afternoon.
The girls admitted they were very keen to have their photos taken with a Wallaby or two, however, they said it was also a great opportunity to see elite athletes at the top of their field going through their paces.
Another family who was over the moon to be breathing the same air as the Wallabies were the Hobsons.
Samuel, Zoe and Mia were watching with their mum from the sidelines, while their brother William was at the other end of the field playing with the Bulldogs.
The kids are convinced the Wallabies have a great chance of winning the first match of the Bledisloe Cup against the All Blacks next weekend. Certainly everyone in Bathurst will be cheering them on.
