NSW Ports has renewed its sponsorship of the Southern Inland Rugby Referees Association (SIRRA), to help deliver a safe, fun and fair rugby competition across the Riverina as the 2023 season continues.
NSW Ports General Manager of Commercial and Business Development Campbell Mason said the business, which has strong links with the Riverina through both containerised and bulk agricultural exports, was proud to support regional sport and to help encourage more women and young people to join the game.
“From Griffith to Wagga Wagga, down to Albury, and as west as Deniliquin and Hay, SIRRA’s volunteers do a fantastic job officiating hundreds of matches with more than a dozen teams each week across the Riverina, from junior players to senior first-grade games,” he said.
“We’re proud to support the resilient communities whose hard work has delivered recent record export grain harvests through Port Botany and Port Kembla, alongside other types of regional produce. NSW Ports is here to support farmers and regional producers, from paddock to port.”
NSW Ports’ major trade gateways, including its intermodal terminals at Enfield and Cooks River, in Sydney, help connect various agricultural exporters across the dynamic Riverina region and regional NSW more broadly, with markets around the world.
“In the past financial year, more than 4 million tonnes of grain have been exported from NSW Ports facilities at both Port Botany and Port Kembla to international markets, a trend which is set to continue this year after another bumper crop,” Mr Mason said.
Image: A train offloads a shipment of grain at Port Kembla.
“We’re thrilled to play a key role supporting hard-working farmers and other agricultural producers and are excited to partner with SIRRA to back one of regional NSW’s favourite sports.”
Image: Members of SIRRA who officiate rugby matches across the Riverina.
SIRRA Secretary and Treasurer James Martel said NSW Ports’ sponsorship had helped strengthen the code and would empower referees and volunteers to take to the field each week.
“We thank NSW Ports for their continued sponsorship, which will help us provide kit and equipment for our members and recruit new talent from younger generations, who are starting to discover their love of rugby in the regions,” he said.
NSW Ports’ sponsorship of SIRRA will help purchase referee kits, upgrade radio equipment and support the Referee Ready Program, to recruit more women and young people to join the sport and officiate games.
NSW Ports manages the key trade gateways of Port Botany and Port Kembla as well as the intermodal facilities at Enfield and Cooks River that contribute $13.6 billion annually to NSW Gross State Product and support about 65,000 jobs.
For media inquiries, contact:
Brooke.Eggleton@nswports.com.au | 0419 684 953