Parents and children alike were greeted by a familiar voice when they arrived at Caltex Park on Saturday for the Waratah Knockout.
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Actor and entertainer Luke Carroll was a special guest of the organisers, and spent his day mingling with the crowd as well as manning the public address system.
When tries were scored and goals were kicked Mr Carroll, who was a star of the pioneering television program Redfern Now back in 2012, was the one describing the action.
Knockout footy is a far cry from his most recent well-known gig as a presenter on Play School, but for Carroll he wouldn’t have been anywhere else on Saturday.
“I’m like most Indigenous people, I love my footy,” he said.
“For our people these events are so much about our culture. The footy is skilful, tough, rugged but there is something so special about the Knockout.
“I got asked by a good friend of mine, ‘Spock’ Toomey, to come out for the day and i’m so glad I did because this Dubbo carnival is such a special event.
“Obviously there is a great facility here, and to have teams and supporters come in from all parts of NSW is special. That is what makes Knockouts so great.
“People come from all parts and it is like one family coming back together.”
With 24 teams involved on the day, countless people were drawn in to Dubbo to play in and attend the event.
The benefit for the city was immense, but according to Mr Carroll it is just as much about the next generation as those that are involved this year.
“You look around here and you see the likes of Ronny Gibbs, David Peachey, Joe Williams,” he said.
“They’re all here for this Knockout and what that does is it shows the kids that if you have the talent and you put in the work, great things can be achieved.
“Even myself, I’m not a footballer but the Indigenous kids know if they want to be an actor or on television it’s not beyond their reach.
“You get such a great vibe around these Knockout events, and if I can help promote that to our people then I think that is a terrific thing.”