The Dyldam Parramatta Eels will take on the South Sydney Rabbitohs this Friday night (27 March 2015) at Pirtek Stadium with the Round Four clash being the Eels #SalutetoService game of 2015.
The Eels “Salute to Service” Round is a way of saying thankyou by involving servicemen and women from the defence forces as well as local frontline services like police, ambulance and fire.
The local frontline services and other servicemen and women from the defence forces will also have a presence in ‘TryLine City’ - the precinct area of Pirtek Stadium.
In the lead up to the Eels second home game of the season, we will be highlighting some of these servicemen and women.
Sergeant Jeff Ludkin who features in the above video is the son of Roger Ludkin who is the 186th player to represent the Parramatta Eels.
Click here to view our salute to the Ambulance Service of NSW
“There is definately a lot of Eels supporters at the Police Station, we are definitely in our dozens. We definitely out number everyone else!” Ludkin said.
“We are vocal, the Eels fans at work, so we definitely celebrate when we win and we are very quiet when we lose. But win, lose or draw, we always turn up for them” Ludkin added.
“There is a lot of Parra fans out here. Not just for the sake of going for Parramatta because that’s your station but we actually do love the team,” Senior Constable Parramatta Police Station Adam Galbraith said.
“Working in the police, they say it is like being part of a family. It is unique in that you go to certain jobs which can be quite dangerous and you look to your left and right and it’s people that wear the same uniform and you know they have your back covered and are prepared to put your body on the line,” Ludkin said.
“I guess it’s very similar in a football sense that we are all looking to achieve a certain job and whatever it takes to get the job done,” he added.
“I think all the staff at Parramatta Station do a great job, especially the general duties crew, everyone is out there risking their lives each day. I know they have my back and I have theirs” said Galbraith.
“I generally enjoy helping people and I think I am in a lucky position to be given the opportunity to try and go make a difference in somebodies life. I like to be able to go out there on the front line, helping out, and doing what I can for someone else” he added.
View the Round Four team list
