The annual Sgt. Matthew Locke MG charity weekend is being held for the tenth time this year, featuring a big day of golf with Governor David Hurley on Friday, the iconic rugby match between Bellingen Magpies and the Australian Army Rugby Team on Saturday, and a concert with the Army Band on Sunday at the C.ex in Coffs Harbour.
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Matthew Locke, who was born in Bellingen, was a distinguished Australian soldier who served in the Special Air Service Regiment in Afghanistan.
In 2006 he was awarded the Medal for Gallantry – the third highest award in the Australian honours system – after he and another SAS soldier, greatly outnumbered by the enemy, dodged volleys of gunfire to neutralise an attack on an SAS observation post.
His distinguished military career was cut short the following year when he was shot in the chest by Taliban fighters during an operation to drive them out of the Chora Valley, a Taliban stronghold 15 km from the Australian base at Tarin Kowt.
Since his death, his family have organised a rugby league charity match every year between the Magpies and the Army team in memory of him.
Unfortunately the Army Thunder has won all but the first match, although they won the last two years by only two points.
The Magpies are missing a number of players this year but have managed to make up a team from other Group 2 cubs to take the field.
The day will kick off at 1pm with the Magpie League Tag Ladies, fresh from two out of three wins at the Coffs Harbour Nines, taking on the South Grafton Rebels. Next, the under 18 Magpies, also with two out of three wins at the Nines, will also play the Rebels.
The Rebels First Grade side will then play the Navy Tridents again after an entertaining encounter last year. At 5.30pm the Army Band will march on for the formal welcome and anthem and at pm the Group 2 Barbarians including Bellingen players will play the Army Thunder .
To date, the Locke family have raised over $120,000 that has been distributed among Soldier On (looking after returned soldiers and their families), The Grub Club and local organisations such as Dorrigo Swim Club, Bellingen Junior Cricket, Bellingen Hockey, Fernmount RFS, Orama Public School, Surf Life Saving North Beach and Urunga and Junior Rugby League and Legacy and Mates4Mates.
