WHEN you Google the words “Matt Ratcliffe Narooma” you can immediately get a sense of how much he will be missed by our community. As you scroll through the search results you are presented with web links mentioning his positive influences at the Whale Restaurant, his 40th birthday bash (attended by over 150 people), people participating in the Ice Bucket Challenge in his name, surfing tributes and even news gallery images of “Matt Ratt” revelling in the Great Southern Blues Festival. It becomes clear, at this point that he maintained a deep-rooted, positive and amazing social presence in this town. The full extent of Matt Ratt’s positive influence on others however could only be truly measured if you could gather accounts from the wider population of our community which has been left heartbroken by his passing.
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The Narooma Lions Australian Football Club have been very privileged to experience Matt’s amazing aura up close and have benefitted significantly from his dedication to the club, more specifically through his development of juniors as a foundation coach for its Auskick program. Even in the late stages of his illness in early 2014, he volunteered to take on the club’s secretary role.
The passing of Matt Ratt on Thursday evening saw Saturday’s game day become a live and impromptu and communal epitaph of appreciation as clubs people, parents and players spoke of him with love, respect and gratitude.
As a tribute, the Lions reigning-champion U16s formed a guard of honour and held a minute’s silence with the Merimbula opposition, shortly after unfurling their 2014 Premiership flag. The club’s senior side wore a black armband as a mark of respect.
On the field, the resolve of the Lions players across all age groups seemed strengthened by their respect for Matt Ratt and after watching the U13s battle hard and just fall short against the Merimbula Diggers; the U16s were triumphant, thrashing the opposition by 19 goals.
For the seniors, who have continued to struggle for numbers and form the theme for the day was “play for Matty” and, despite succumbing to a 150 point loss, the whole team kept striving in one what could have easily turned into a 250 point rout.
As one of the many beneficiaries of Matt Ratt’s amazing presence over the years, the Narooma Lions pass on their love and appreciation to wife, Stephanie and children, James, Eve and Grace. May he rest in peace and never be forgotten.
If you would like to make a donation to support research into treatment and a cure for Motor Neuron Disease, please visit www.mndaust.asn.au and click on the ‘donate’ link.
The Lions play at home this week with game times as follows:
U11s at 9.30am
U12s at 11am
U13s at 12.30am
