AS a kid growing up in Victoria, sport was the backbone of the community.
Not much has changed since moving north of the border because communities across the state still rally around their town's team.
Regardless of the code, be it rugby, Aussie Rules or rugby league, locals will back their utes up to the fence and cheer on their mates every weekend.
I still have visions of the small town team we followed growing up making it into the grand final and whipping everyone into a frenzy.
Shopfronts up and down the main street were decked out in the club's colours, a buzz filled the air and everyone you spoke to had a glowing pride in their voice.
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However, sport is one of the great levellers in life and that particular season ended in disappointment.
Suddenly cheery conversations turned to the tried and tested mantra of "there's always next year".
There's no doubt every town has a similar vibe when their team is in the big dance and there is no better feeling than celebrating a hard-won title of any description.
But what about those teams that came so close but yet still so far away from glory? It's an interesting question and regardless of how big the final margin the loss still stings.
However, there is a more painful disappointment and that is when your club has not won a title in decades.
It's known in sporting slang as a drought and while not as devastating as natural disasters like our state recently endured, it can take an emotional toll.
A lot of work goes into putting a team on the park every weekend, not just by the players but by the thousands of behind-the-scenes volunteers who give up countless hours to see their beloved clubs succeed.
It lead me to ask another question, which NSW country rugby teams are currently enduring the longest droughts?
The first that sprang to mind, because I recently watched the side compete, was the Gunnedah Red Devils, which hasn't won a title in the Central North competition since 1970.
Another was the Cowra Eagles, which is yet to taste success in tier one of the Central West after joining the competition in 1967.
I'm sure at times for the loyal supporters of clubs like these, who have watched their teams get so close only to walk away empty handed, it seems like an impossible feat. However, 2020 delivered some hope in the form of drought-breaking wins for Coonabarabran (28 years) and Maitland Pickers (27 years) in the Central West and Newcastle and Hunter competitions respectively.
There is almost certain to be teams enduring longer stints between the ultimate success the two mentioned above, but the two proud clubs serve as example of the eternal hope that lives within a sporting community.
Gunnedah (first) and Cowra (second) both have great chances to break the droughts as finals draw closers. Here's hoping both towns get the opportunity to support their teams by redecorating the main street and maybe even celebrate a long-awaited triumph.
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Billy Jupp
Billy is a Senior Livestock Journalist for the Queensland Country Life based in Toowoomba. He has worked for a variety of different ACM mastheads during the past five years including the Namoi Valley Independent, Northern Daily Leader and The Land.
Billy is a Senior Livestock Journalist for the Queensland Country Life based in Toowoomba. He has worked for a variety of different ACM mastheads during the past five years including the Namoi Valley Independent, Northern Daily Leader and The Land.
