Rochester Football Netball Club raffle winner Michelle Seabrook, Echuca Toyota dealer principal Michael Sistanis, RFNC seniors captain Wil Hamilton and Echuca Toyota sales manager Sam Lehmann. Photos: Jordan Townrow.
There was plenty to jump up and down about on Saturday, August 16 at Rochester Football Netball Club’s last home game of the GVL 2025 season.
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Not only did the club land a clean-sweep against Benalla in its five netball and three football divisions, but one of Rochy’s own won the sold-out Toyota LandCruiser Prado raffle.
Michelle Seabrook could not believe it when her name was called out as the winner.
“It felt really surreal, we were just watching it live at home and when they said my name, I looked up and my face just dropped,” she said.
“We got down there really quickly to celebrate with everyone.
“We thought, ‘we'll just support the club’, we never thought that we would win it.”
Michelle Seabrook ready to take her prize for a spin.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
All 1000 tickets were snapped up by mid-July, with new clubrooms a deserving cause for long-time supporters like Mrs Seabrook to get behind.
Through the raffle, the club raised $100,000, which has been siloed for the future clubroom redevelopment.
RFNC seniors captain Wil Hamilton was thrilled to see all the support from the community for the fundraiser.
He is excited to make use of the space in future.
“It's a really good idea that the whole community got around... it’ll be nice to have the proceeds go to the new build of the clubrooms,” Mr Hamilton said.
“The mock-ups look really good, I’m looking forward to it.
“It made it a whole lot easier to cheer, having a local winner.”
Rochester Football Netball Club raffle winner Michelle Seabrook and RFNC seniors captain Wil Hamilton.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
Likewise, Mrs Seabrook is excited for her children, three of whom play for RFNC, to use the space in time.
“You know what the money is going towards,” she said.
“It’s beneficial for the whole of Rochy, really.”
Echuca Toyota — dubbed ‘Rochester Toyota’ by the RFNC crew — dealer principal Michael Sistanis was happy to back the fundraiser where they could.
“We were just rapt to support,” he said.
“The community spirit is unrivalled to me.
“They took a massive risk with this... and they sold out in six weeks, which is a testament to the Rochester FNC.”
Rochester Football Netball Club’s Kate Lee, raffle winner Michelle, husband Brad and son Max Seabrook, Echuca Toyota dealer principal Michael Sistanis, RFNC seniors captain Wil Hamilton and Echuca Toyota sales manager Sam Lehmann.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
The RFNC committee is in its design stage, working with key groups, including Campaspe Shire Council, to plan a multi-purpose, future-focused precinct.
They will look to fundraise further after the success of the raffle.
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