On Thursday the Moree Boomerangs were crowned Australia’s 2014 Good Sports Club of the Year for their success in “improving the lives” of players and supporters by tackling community issues from alcohol and obesity to domestic violence.

Now the team, which only a few years ago was a pariah of NSW country footy, is being held up as a model for clubs around the country. 

Boomerangs president Mitchell Johnson received the award, $2000 prizemoney and an applause from the audience of 300 at the ceremony in the MCG last week.

“We received the award on behalf of the community,” Mr Johnson said. “And that’s who this award is about. I’ve been speaking to a lot of the old guys who’ve been at the club since before the days we were kicked out of the competition and they just can’t believe where we are now, they are over the moon.”

Mr Johnson said the trophy was up there with the historic back-to-back premierships of 2013-2014 for a club which spent 12 years in exile for its off-field behaviour before finally winning its battle to re-enter the NSW Country Rugby League competition.

“Obviously a senior football club is about winning trophies on the field,” he said. “But this award demonstrates that we are on track to become more than just a club, but a positive influence for the community.”

The man who guided the team to those grand final flags, coach Chris Binge, agreed.  

“With the premierships we’ve been pretty successful, but I think we’re even more successful off the field now,” he said. “To me, our on-field performance is now just a bonus. 

“The flow on effects of the success of this club onto community have been massive and that flow on effect, that’s the ethos of the club.” 

The ‘Rangs have been working with the Australian Drug Foundation’s (ADF) Good Sports program since reentering the competition in 2009 and trumped more than 6500 clubs around the country to claim this year’s award. 

ADF’s head of community programs, Maree Sidey, acknowledged that the club was setting an “exceptional example” for the whole community - and beyond.  

“Moree Boomerangs RLFC epitomises the values and ethos of Good Sports and is a true inspiration to individuals and clubs across the country,” Ms Sidey said.

Coach Binge said credit should go to those responsible for demonstrating those values, the players.

“Hat’s off to the players, they’ve taken on board everything the club’s put to them, from the anti-domestic violence programs to the stand that we’ve taken on the behaviours that come with alcohol,” he said. “The players are the ones who adhere to the codes of conduct and the codes of conduct that we have are probably far and beyond any other club in NSW.

“I think if you took those codes to any other club or any other player they’d say: ‘I’m not signing that,’ because there are a whole lot of implications that go with that that are quite serious, from players sitting out games to possible expulsion from the club.” 

Secretary Kylie Benge said the strict code of conduct was having a real effect on the lives of the players and their families. 

“Last year we had a kid kicked out of the club and this year he went on to win one of the most prestigious awards we’ve got,” she said.

“He’s probably one of our brightest players coming through now,” coach Binge added. “He’s a young father and he’s had a great turnaround. He’s got a bit of leadership potential too. 

“Those are the kids you’ve got to nurture and put with the right group of people.” 

In giving out the award Ms Sidey cited the club’s decision not to sell alcohol, to create a smoke free environment, to promote healthy food at the canteen and to provide free food and a courtesy bus to functions.

The club has also put on sexual education clinics, as well as social events such as debutante balls and discos.

“We’re not putting on those functions for a profit, because we actually lose money on them,” Ms Benge said. “We’re doing them for community need, for the community to have positive events.”

Despite the huge strides the club has taken in such a short space of time, all three leaders spoke about taking the club to the “next phase” - going further to promote employment, building up the club’s new junior teams and inaugurating its new stadium and facilities.

Their dreams also included the creation of a youth academy which would draw in indigenous players from areas like Boggabilla, Collarenebri and Toomelah.

“Tamworth isn’t the heart of everything,” Ms Benge said. 

“Moree is the heart when you’re talking about Murri kids wanting to progress in their football careers or progress in whatever, like life.”