THERE’S one thing parents don’t like being told, and that’s what to do with their children.
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About 50 concerned residents attended a community meeting hosted by the Boomerangs on Tuesday evening to discuss the future of the club’s junior rugby league competition after a decision handed down by the Group 19 board.
But the issue has gone beyond just one of sporting concern.
“Where are the Freedom Riders now?” one resident asked at the meeting.
“They said if we ever needed anything then to let them know, and this is something to notify them of,” she said.
“There are two issues here,” president Mitchell Johnson said, “One is that parents don’t like being told what to do with their own children. They should have a choice. It’s like back in the old days where we were told where we could and couldn’t go,” he said.
“It comes down to the fact they (Group 19) are dictating who the kids can play for. It’s not a racial issue. It’s clear cut. Parents shouldn’t be told what to do with their own kids.”
And that’s an issue fresh on everyone’s minds after only commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Freedom Ride in Moree a fortnight ago.
While the president was clear he did not want this issue to be one of racial tension, the sentiments from some of the crowd were different.
“Group 19 are racist,” one shouted.
“They didn’t want us to start a nations league (while in exile) either, but we did,” one man said.
Facebook has fuelled the debate.
Most agree that the issue is not one of race... “It was never to be used as an us and them,” one person said.
“We need to bring this town together, not split things. I love rugby league and believe it is one thing that unites us all,” another wrote.
However, not everyone agrees.
“This attitude is getting old... Moree has a black history,” someone wrote.
Moree junior league president, Mark Ricketts said he hadn’t seen any comments on Facebook so couldn’t comment specifically.
“We have indigenous kids play with us and we look after them every week,” he said. “They are good kids.”
Mayor Katrina Humphries said this was an issue for Group 19 to sort out. “I know there is a lot of angst out there, however, we do have two functioning football clubs in town. “It’s a league matter, but it needs to be sorted out as soon as possible,” she said.
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