Dealers asked to help junior rugby players with battery recycling

Raising money from battery recycling to get from Dubbo to New Zealand is the key aim for the Dubbo Kangaroos junior rugby club who will hold a battery drive during July.

The squad is looking to raise money for its tour of New Zealand later this year – and dealerships in the region are being asked to help by donating old batteries.

On July 12 and 26, members of the team will be at the Wingewarra Street entrance of the Dubbo Showground. They are asking people to drop off their old car and truck batteries.

The club’s main sponsor, Western Plains Automotive, has thrown its support behind the project, donating its old batteries and it has already been a significant contributor to the drive.

“We have collected about four pallets worth already, and we are hoping to get around the same again, if not more,” tour co-ordinator Steve Gower told The Daily Liberal.

Century Batteries and Brett McCarthy have come on board, and the batteries will be recycled and the lead extracted from them.

As well as the opportunity to play rugby in a different country, one of the main aims of the tour is to help the players develop as people, as well as raise awareness of car and truck battery recycling.

Getting the boys involved in the fundraising is an important part of that process, according to Western Plains Automotive dealer principal Greg Brimble.

“It’s absolutely fantastic to have the boys out there helping to contribute to their tour. It’s another important part of the learning experience,” he says.

“All our old batteries are going to the club, and I would encourage other dealerships to do the same because it is supporting a good cause.”