Collingullie Wagga Demons tick off upgrades with community fundraising

In partnership with Toyota.

The Collingullie Wagga Demons are one of the oldest football and netball clubs in the Riverina, with a history stretching back to 1911.

While the club has had several amalgamations to keep it running over that one time, one thing hasn't changed: the spirit of community and perseverance.

The club's Elissa Bent said that most people in the area have a connection to the club in some way, with several generations coming through.

"We've got junior football and netball - including Auskick and Net Set Go - and both women's and men's senior football as well as senior netball."

The Demons had seven senior teams in the finals last year, winning the senior and reserve football championship and A reserve netball, and coming runner-up in the women's football.

Elissa said both the senior and junior clubs have participated in the Toyota Good for Footy raffle for several years. So far, the funds have paid for much-needed equipment such as pallet racking, shelving, upgrades to the women's change rooms and the canteen, and a history room.

"We got into it a long time ago, when you gave people a $50 book and then drove around trying to sell the tickets.

"We just buy batches of tickets and sell them at the gate. That approach has been much easier for us, and especially when we say we get all the money raised, people are really happy to buy tickets.

"It always surprises me how many people from other clubs purchase tickets. Everyone wants a chance to win a car."

Elissa said it also helps to tell people the specific items they are raising money for, such as making up a shortfall from a grant to enable the completion of a fence around the netball courts to protect players from the wind.

"A lot of our money comes from big events we run during the year, but the Toyota raffle really helps - we don't run another raffle because Good for Footy is so easy."

Elissa estimates the club usually earns about $8000 each year from ticket sales.

"It's really simple because we're already logged into it. Every year they send us a reminder that it's coming up - that part's been really good in that it just happens. All we have to do is find someone to spearhead the raffle sales."

It's also been good for the club to say that their members have won prizes.

The Toyota Good for Footy raffle offers a chance to win one of 47 prizes, including three new cars, from a prize pool worth nearly $300,000.

Tickets are $5 and your ticket price goes to the AFL club of your choice.

Any grassroots football club and umpiring associations in Australia (men's, women's, junior, senior, masters, all access, etc.) can register for the raffle.

To buy tickets, or for more information, visit toyotagoodforfooty.raffletix.com.au.

To find out more, head to Toyota's Good for Footy webpage.