Katanning community rallies behind McGuire-Marris family at footy club’s 100th

Two weeks ago Katanning couple Ricky Marris and Emily McGuire learnt that their 20-month-old son Thomas had leukemia, and on the evening of June 3 the community dug deep to help the family in their time of need. “They’re a pretty young family and everyone in the community wanted to do something,” fundraiser organiser Matt Kerin said. “They’re very well-known in Katanning and they’re good people.” Mr Kerin said that the Katanning Wanderers Football Club’s 100th anniversary event presented a great opportunity for the community to rally around the family. “Ricky’s played 200 games and a couple of premierships with the Wanderers and Emily plays netball, we put the message out and we had some amazing donations for the fundraising auction,” he said. One community member donated a four-day stay at a house in Beagle Bay valued at $3000 — at the Wanderer’s auction, it went for $6500. “There were Dockers tickets, a Dockers jumper and Tennis West provided two corporate box tickets to the United Cup,” Mr Kerin said. “Peter Rundle auctioned a dinner for six at Parliament House and the Katanning Country Club offered two gold memberships.” A Katanning Wanderers heritage jumper as worn by the league team earlier in the day was also auctioned. “We auctioned No.19, that was Ricky’s number,” Mr Kerin said. “It ended up raising $18,000 and that went straight to Ricky, I haven’t added it all up yet but it’d be over $30,000 that we raised all together.” Mr Kerin said that the McGuire Marris family were touched by the support they’ve received from the community. “Ricky was blown away and overwhelmed,” he said. “He was pretty humble about the whole thing and very grateful.” In the weeks leading up to the Wanderers’ 100th the footy club cut and sold several trailers of firewood to raise funds for the family, something they will continue to do throughout winter.