International band ‘Furnace and the Fundamentals’ will take to the stage to rock JC Lowe Oval from 9pm this Saturday as part of the inaugural ‘Gather Round on the Murray’.’
With football and netball season just around the corner, and the immense popularity of the AFL’s Gather Round, the Yarrawonga Pigeons are jumping on board and hosting a Gather Round of their own.
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Great football and netball, country hospitality and world class entertainment are all on offer at JC Lowe Oval this weekend.
The oval will be bustling with numerous football and netball teams as well as music lovers and foodies for the inaugural Gather Round on the Murray.
Initiated by Pigeon stalwart Tyler Bonat, club all-rounder Andrew Mott and Ovens and Murray Hall of Famer Bridget Cassar, this event is designed to bring the community together and bring more people to the area.
For $10 entry you can watch the sport during the day and for $20 after 4pm you can watch the football and netball finals as well as a world class band.
At 8am, Mulwala will play Mangoplah before Gather Round matches get under way from 11am.
On the footy field, seniors and reserves teams will play a knockout format with two 30-minute halves.
Netball will be played in a round robin series on two courts with juniors in the morning and seniors in the afternoon/ evening.
Clubs involved in the football include Balwyn, Benalla, Mangoplah, Melton, Mulwala, Nathalia, Wodonga Bulldogs and Yarrawonga FNC with the Balwyn Women also playing Wodonga Raiders ladies in the footy at 6pm.
In netball, clubs represented will be Yarrawonga, Myrtleford, Wodonga Bulldogs, Shepparton Bears, Shepparton United, Shepparton Swans and Benalla.
The usual Yarrawonga FNC canteen and can bar will run all day before food and drink vans Jacyees, Cook n Co, Pavlos Catering, Slice of Nice and Gluten Free Donuts offer all their delicious goodness from 4pm before the real party starts after the grand final.
YFNC president Ross Mulquiney said the club was proud to be hosting the first Gather Round in the region, with plenty on offer for locals and visitors of all ages.
“The idea for the whole Gather Round really started with Tyler Bonat and some mates wanting to do something different for the club, and what an exciting event this one is going to be,” Mr Mulquiney said.
“We’ve worked the football/netball draw to play with what we have, but we still have room for one more football team.”
Ovens and Murray rivals Wodonga Bulldogs and Yarrawonga Pigeons come together to take part in the Gather Round on the football field and netball court.
Photo by
Les_Garbutt
The semi-finals will begin from 4pm before junior entertainment from the Under 8s and Under 10s takes place as the curtain raiser.
The ultimate winner of the inaugural Gather Round will be decided at the grand final at 7.30pm.
“We are very lucky to get a world class big band like Furnace and the Fundamentals, as they usually only play at large events,” Mr Mulquiney said.
“Andrew ‘Gudinski’ Mott has made this happen.
“You don’t have to be there all day, you can just come at night and enjoy the band and the food.”
Gather Round schedule: Saturday, March 15
Junior Netball Starts 8.30am – Final from noon to 1pm
U17 and U15 Netball
Senior netball (Tier 1 and Tier 2) – 1pm start
7pm Grand Final
Football (full schedule to be confirmed)
Starting from 8am — Mulwala v Mangoplah
Yarrawonga plays at 1pm and 2pm
Balwyn/Melton/Wodonga — playing at 3pm/4pm/5pm
Womens’ game — 6pm Balwyn Women v Wodonga Raiders Women
