a great win but unfortunatly soured by this
the story is from the Fairfield Advance
Team spirit puts family first
18Sep07
THE close-knit Cabramatta Two Blues women's rugby league side will forgo its trip to New Zealand next month to help pay to send a grieving family to Auckland.
The team has so far raised $2000 so one of its players, Brenda Hau, and her two children, can attend her husband Shane Hau's funeral on Friday.
Mr Hau was allegedly killed after being run over by an allegedly drunk P-plater, Rangi Akuira, after they both attended Mr Hau's cousin's 21st birthday party at Georges Hall on Saturday.
Two men, aged 20 and 22, were arrested after the 1.30am incident.
Mr Hau's death has left the club in disbelief and shock, Cabramatta club secretary Julie Morris said.
Mrs Morris described 42-year-old Mr Hau, of Seven Hills, as a wonderful man.
``His family was his top interest, he just loved his family,'' she said.
``If you asked Shane to do anything, he'd do it straight away.''
The team had just experienced the jubilation of winning a grand final against Forrestville in August and had arranged a celebration on Saturday.
Instead, they gathered to mourn.
``They were a very close-knit team and we'd been together for the last few years,'' Mrs
Morris said.
``They were devastated.
``They're all a family, this team, and as soon as it happened, everyone knew.''
Mr Hau's body is expected to be flown to his homeland of New Zealand on Friday and will be buried in Auckland.
The team has raised about $2000 but is trying to increase that to $9000 to cover transportation fees and airfares for Mrs Hau and their two children - a 16-year-old son and nine-year-old daughter.
Mrs Morris said Mr Hau's relatives would gather each night ahead of the funeral, as was the tradition in the Maori culture.
& the winner was?
