While the Men of League Foundation has been active in the Port for many years, welfare to embattled members of the rugby league community has been provided through the Newcastle branch.

Chris Kelly, the inaugural president of Men of League Port Stephens, said the establishment of the new branch would mean more time and resources would be dedicated to the area.

“Having a branch out here will mean we can concentrate on the people out here,” Mr Kelly said..

“We’ve already helped a lot of people, but having the branch out here will provide more opportunities for us to help and for people to receive assistance.”

The foundation was born in 2002 after three former rugby league players – Ron Coote, Jim Hall and Max Brown – saw a pressing need to establish a network that helped its own.

Its mission is to provide a wide range of welfare to members of the rugby league community that have fallen on hard times, be it an ex-player, an administrator, referee, club volunteer, man, woman or child.

Forty-two branches were established across NSW.

With Port Stephens, there are now 43 branches operating across the state.

Mr Kelly is joined by Peter Arnold on the inaugural committee. 

Mr Arnold, secretary of the Port branch, and Mr Kelly have worked tirelessly in past years representing the Newcastle Men of League branch and raising funds in the area for the foundation.

Gerry Mohan is treasurer for Port Stephens, Greg Hennessy vice president and Ian Warrington the welfare officer.

The new branch will cover the Port Stephens Local Government Area, and will extend as far north as Hawks Nest.

Men of League Foundation’s chief executive officer, Frank Barrett, joined members of the Port Stephens branch at Fingal Bay Sports Club on Friday, May 12 for its official “kick off”.