On Saturday, June 13, Willie will don the blue and gold alongside his cousin Ben Rioli, adding serious star power to the Rams’ line‑up.
Willie was a West Coast premiership player, and also notched up 58 games with Port Adelaide before retiring last year.
With Port, he played alongside former Deni Ram, Todd Marshall.
Ben has carved out his own impressive career with South Fremantle in the WAFL and St Mary’s in the NTFL.
Long weekend sport
If you’re after something to do this long weekend, there’s no shortage of sporting club related fun happening in and around Deniliquin.
The Rovers take on Dookie on Saturday before rolling into their much loved Sheep Races on Sunday from 12pm.
It will coincide with the 250 Club draw, with tickets still available.
Check the club’s Facebook page for more information, www.facebook.com/denirovers.
Blighty hosts Tocumwal on Saturday, then backs it up with the Blighty FNC Annual Ball from 6.30pm, featuring great food, live music and a return bus from Deni for those who book early.
If football and netball are not your forte, the Deni Blue Heelers are using the long‑weekend bye to invite everyone to a Saturday training session.
There will be a touch footy game, barbecue and club catch‑up, offering a chance for players, supporters and newcomers to get involved.
Be road wise
Speaking of the coming long weekend, keep in mind double demerit points will be in force across NSW and the ACT for the King’s Birthday long weekend.
The crackdown covers speeding, illegal mobile phone use, seatbelt offences and riding without a helmet, with penalties doubled for anyone caught doing the wrong thing.
Police are urging motorists to take extra care on the roads, with the four‑day operation targeting the behaviours most commonly linked to serious crashes.
Odd rainy weather
Sun showers and short bursts of rain were reported in the local area at the weekend, the kind that makes you wonder if it’s worth bringing the washing in.
Local towns copped everything from bright sunshine to sudden spits on the windscreen.
After a day of teasing and half‑hearted showers, the clouds finally gave way to some proper rain around 6.30pm, delivering a decent fall many had been waiting for.
Although the Bureau of Metrology reported the temperatures got up to the mid to late teens, a 17 knot wind definitely made it feel colder.
One month to go
The Best of the Bald Archy Prize is showing at the Peppin Heritage Centre Gallery, Deniliquin, but only until June 28.
From Kerry Packer to Shane Warne, John Howard to Julia Gillard, the exhibition dishes up the humour, parody and fearless satire that made the Bald Archy an Aussie icon.
Good News Sunday
Local Member for Murray Helen Dalton has kicked off a new Facebook campaign known as ‘Good News Sunday’.
The aim is to highlight some of the positive stories from throughout our region.
In the first post, Deniliquin’s Dakota McKenzie and the Deni ute Muster get a mention.
Dakota campaigned to bring artist Tones And I to Deniliquin when she was giving away free/low cost live music opportunities.
While we were not chosen for that campaign, the Deni Ute Muster team managed to build on the momentum by getting the performer to agree to be one of the headliners at this year’s event.
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