MOREE Junior Soccer Club and Moree Clay Target Club are two of 90 sporting organisations across New South Wales to receive automated external defibrillators through the NSW Government’s Local Sport Defibrillator Grant Program.

The program provides grants of up to $3000 to eligible sport and active recreation organisations to purchase automated external defibrillators for use at sports facilities.

Moree Junior Soccer Club received $2650 and Moree Clay Target Club received $2495 to install AEDs at club grounds.

Regionally, Narrabri and District Pony Club and Narrabri Amateur Basketball Association also received $3000 and $2650 respectively to install the life-saving devices.

Moree Junior Soccer Club president Ben Dawson said having an AED at Ron Harborne Ovals ahead of the 2026 season will benefit club members and their families.

“Junior soccer can easily have more than 700 people at Ron Harbourne Ovals every Saturday morning during the season, with players and family members in attendance,” Dawson said.

“While the likelihood of needing a defibrillator on-site is low, when the opportunity arose for the club to have one, we jumped at the chance.

“It’s not just for the use of the junior soccer club, but for any of the local sporting groups that use the ovals.

“Hopefully, we never need to use it, but it will be there if required, and may also give some peace of mind to some of our older spectators coming down to watch on a Saturday morning,” Dawson said.

Registrations for the 2026 junior soccer season close on April 2, with full details at the club’s Facebook Page.

Registrations for all age groups, including MiniRoos can be lodged at the Play Football Website.

Moree Junior Soccer Club president Ben Dawson at last year’s end-of-season trophy presentation.

“Our first round of games are pencilled in for May 2,” Dawson said.

“Registrations are slightly on the low side, so hopefully we see a big increase now the summer sports have concluded.

“We are actively recruiting more high school players, particularly girls, to come and give soccer a go. “In fact, any newly signed-up high school girls who play the whole season will get their registration fee back, essentially playing the year for free.

Moree Junior Soccer Club is the biggest junior club in Moree, numbers-wise, and Saturday morning competition is always well attended.

“The Deluxe Cafe team will be there to make the coffee, and hopefully the canteen will be running again this year.

“The Ron Harborne ovals complex is a great place for people to start weekends over the winter months,” Dawson said.

Since the AED program commenced, more than 2400 defibrillators have been awarded for use at sport and recreation facilities across NSW.

The program includes a $150,000 grant to the Heartbeat of Football Foundation to conduct research to identify which sports facilities have AEDs installed.

The findings of the research, which commenced in September last year, will provide vital insight and guide future government investment in the equipment.

Minister for Sport Steve Kamper said more than 190 clubs are now better equipped with defibrillators.

“When every second counts, this equipment saves lives, ensuring players, volunteers and spectators can step onto the field with confidence and get home safely,” Mr Kamper said.