ONE of the keys behind the huge success of the St Pat's league tag side over the past five years has undoubtedly been their spirit and camaraderie - qualities which they are now putting to a different use.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Saints have banded together to fill around 40 boxes which they will donate to Ladies of the Land. It is an initiative which sees parcels delivered to those women who work the land in the worst drought areas across the state.
"We thought we'd do something for the ladies who might not think of themselves over Christmas. We got together and organised buying things to put in the shoe boxes and I was also able to organise some support from local business houses," St Pat's committee member Leanne Ashcroft said.
"A lot of the league tag girls are from small country towns, they are not all originally from Bathurst and they are from the land and know how tough it can be.
"So we just put our heads together and wanted to come up with something nice for the ladies who might not have such a good Christmas this year.
"We've used chocolates and wine glasses and wine, candles, hand creams, face masks - things they wouldn't spend money on themselves for after a tough year. It's just a little bit of a luxury pack for them."
READ MORE: Gordon signs on to play for Panthers in 2020
As the league tag players wrapped the 'pamper boxes' they created in newspaper and tied bows around them, Ashcroft said the spirit within those Saints was evident.
It is something she is proud to see from a group of players who have won three consecutive Group 10 league tag premierships and four in the last five years.
Ashcroft said it shows the Saints are not just concerned with on-field success, but the well-being of the broader community.
"The girls are always trying to do something for other people, they are always there supporting the club and always there supporting each other too," she said.
"That's a testament to them and I think that's why they go so well on the field, because of the great rapport that they have with each other off the field. There's just really good team camaraderie. That's sort of team they are, that's the spirit they have."
The Saints' donation adds to what has been a strong response since the Ladies of the Land was launched. Organisers were aiming for 100 boxes before Christmas, but have far exceeded that number as pledges have not only come from across Australia, but from the UK and the USA.
Pat's thank Sportspower, Larkin Bros, Moodies Pharmacy, Easy Living Footwear, Coles Bathurst and Huntley Berry Farm for their assistance.
