How a chappy revitalised Eagleby

Affectionately known as Chappy Nick, Eagleby State School chaplain and Eagleby Giants footy club co-founder Nick Carroll has been nurturing civic pride in Eagleby for the last 10 years.

A man with a vision, Nick wanted to create a community within Eagleby, built by and for its residents.

‘I wanted to create something where everyone had something healthy and constructive to do on a weekly basis,’ he says.

‘I also wanted it to be a source of passion and pride, so people start taking care of their own community.

‘After a lot of discussion, we decided to form a Junior Rugby League Club.’

With current club president Arthur Joyce, Nick turned the league into a community hub by providing non-sporting events suitable for all ages in addition to the footy at its heart.

‘We love seeing local families thrive where they are, so we created a village because it takes a village to raise a child,’ Nick says.

‘There are events for absolutely everyone to get people involved in the community.’

The league features programs like Mental Health Week, where players are required to participate in mental health seminars with guest speakers. They also run events like Christmas carols and raffles.

For Nick, it’s incredibly rewarding to see how the local guest speakers are running successful businesses in the area as the community continues to support them.

‘To build up a community, it all comes down to how locals treat their own people – if we’re not investing in our community and we’re always complaining, nobody will be encouraged to feel proud of their neighbourhood,’ Nick says.

‘If we’re grateful and joyful, we’re going to be a lot happier as a collective.

‘I used to be that negative person and it’s so much more fulfilling to raise up everyone around you so we can all thrive together as a team.’

For more information, check out the Eagleby Giants footy club and their Logan events.

By June Ho