Group 11 director of operations Paul Loxley joined in the chorus of support for Ryan Medley, following his injury in a reserve grade match at Kennard Park on June 4.
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Medley, in his first match for the season, suffered a serious neck injury during a tackle while playing for CYMS in the match against the Wellington Cowboys.
He was airlifted to Royal North Shore Hospital where he underwent surgery on Sunday night for damage to his spinal cord and C5 vertebrae.
The best wishes from the rugby league and wider sporting community poured in.
In all the talk surrounding the future of City-Country it was easy to forget just how much the fixture meant to some players.
Dubbo product Connor Watson was one of those who treasured the experience to run out at Mudgee in the last-ever edition of the concept.
The Sydney Roosters utility was named in Craig Fitzgibbon’s squad and could hardly contain his excitement in the lead up to the match.
The family of Ryan Medley said they were “blown away” by the amount of love, support and best wishes from the Dubbo and wider community following his injury while playing for Dubbo CYMS’ reserve grade.
The Ryan Medley Appeal was set up just days after he was injured and in just over 12 hours there was more than $20,000 donated to Medley and his family to help with the financial burden involved with such a serious injury.
As well as the funds donated, messages have of support poured in.
The family of Barbara Amos remembered her as “a giver” following the passing of the basketball trailblazer and matriarch in February at 78 years of age.
Amos, who moved to Dubbo in 1967 with her husband Monte, had a huge impact on the Dubbo community as a teacher at St John’s, a swimming and ballroom dancing coach and, most memorably, as a basketball icon.
At times during her long period of running the sport locally she was looking after and helping roughly 400 junior basketballers but that was just one of her duties.
Alex Bonham delivered one of the greatest individual performances in Group 11’s long and storied history in July as Dubbo CYMS cracked triple figures for a second time in 2017.
The Daily Liberal rated Nyngan Tigers captain Reece Goldsmith the most influential player in the competition because of his ability to turn his side into premiership contenders.
Forbes’ Zac Merritt, rated by many within Group 11 as the best player in the competition, was second and Macquarie’s Willie Wright was third after establishing himself.
Dubbo CYMS Tim Ryan admitted there had to be concerns about the Group 11 competition after his side defeated local rivals Westside 102-0 in a round one game which was called off 13 minutes early.
The Fishies ran in an incredible 17 tries and converted every one to announce to the rest of the competition the turbulent off-season and an attempted switch to Group 10 had not taken a toll on the side’s attitude or intent.
But the major talking point was Westside’s capitulation and the way they allowed CYMS to so easily run in try after try.
For Kody Nestor, a Melbourne Cup Day non-TAB meeting at Dubbo Turf Club was the perfect place to have a final ride.
The well-known Dubbo jockey stepped away from a life in the saddle after the meeting, an ongoing battle with weight and injuries taking a toll.
It had been 11 years since he had his first ride and it was a career which had included rides from the glitz and glamour of Randwick to the red dirt of the outback at Birdsville and almost everywhere in between.
It was emotional, it was gritty and at times it was ugly but Macquarie began the Group 11 season with a win.
The Raiders defeated Nyngan 26-20 at Caltex Park during Perry Meredith Memorial Day.
Prior to the match the club retired the number 13 jersey worn by one of its favourite sons after Meredith’s passing late last year.
The Raiders came back from a two-point halftime deficit and overcame a lopsided penalty count, leaving captain and co-coach Zac Rennick delighted.
Dubbo Westside produced one of its best efforts of the season and pushed a powerhouse of Group 11 but in the end the match against Parkes was marred by a late brawl and the abandonment of the final minutes of the contest.
Westside led 24-16 after 15 minutes of the second half but Parkes came back to lead 38-24.
With three minutes remaining punches were thrown, resulting in three players being marched and full-time being called off early.
