It was a day of celebration on Saturday for the Melton Rugby Union Club as it marked 50 years.
The club held a special milestone game on Saturday with players past present and future all in attendance for the big event.
There were under-14, under-16 and under-18 games to start the day, before the men’s and masters sides were in action later on.
President Harry Sheehan said it was a pretty special day for the club.
“Fifty years is a long time,” he said. “We started off with just seniors only and we’ve now had juniors the past 10 years.
“We continue to grow and the club has come a long way from a paddock at Macpherson Park to our own venue in Melton.”
The club, which is one of the oldest clubs in Melton’s west, started in 1975 when local rugby enthusiasts from Melton and Sunbury united to form the club.
They played early matches in Diggers Rest and then Melton South, when it became known as the Melton Rugby Club.
In the 1980s, the club finished runners up in 1982 and won the premiership in 1984 and backed it up the next year.
The club won senior premierships in 2011 and 2013 with many players going onto higher levels.
It was only just two years later in 2015 when the club folded.
Some hard work saw the club back in action in 2016 with the senior side making the grand final.
As well as the success at Melton, the club has had female participation as part of the Western Districts women’s side.
The club’s most recent senior success was in 2024 when it defeated Brimbank to secure the Victorian premiership.
Sheehan said it’s taken them a long time to where they are now, but there’s only bright things for the future.
“The ground and club room took 50 years to get and that is one of the big achievements,” he said.
“Developing juniors for the club the last 10 years has also been really special. With juniors at the club will keep the base growing.
“We need a lot more support in the local areas.”
Sheehan said before the event that he had been looking forward to seeing all the past players and committee members returning to the club.
On field, the under-16s have already won the minor premiership and the 18s are fighting to make finals.
The senior men on Saturday lost to Brimbank, 48-42
It will finish the regular season against Geelong on Saturday
Melton sits third on the ladder.
