A visit from the Brisbane Lions as part of the Australia Post AFL Community Camps was just the tonic for the Bundaberg Community who are still recovering from last year’s damaging floods.
Club legend Simon Black headed up a contingent of Lions including Daniel Rich, Dayne Zorko, Josh Green, Stefan Martin, Jack Crisp, Michael Close and Nick Hayes.
Bundaberg East Primary School hosted a Civic Reception for the Lions, which was impressively hosted by the Year 6 School Captains.
Over 130 primary and secondary school students got the chance to join the players in AFL 9s games and skills clinics before the ever-popular photo and autograph session.
Friday night’s gala dinner gave the local AFL community a chance to drill the boys on new coach Justin Leppitsch and their thoughts on the team’s chances in 2014.
Little fans had their chance to hang out with big-boys during NAB AFL Auskick sessions at the PCYC and Kendall Flats, where club mascot Bernie “Gabba” Vegas made a surprise visit.
It was then on to Bundaberg Hospital where Bernie and the players checked in on the children’s ward before Bernie was examined by several doctors who were fascinated by the size of his head.
With Bernie given the all-clear the group headed to Bundy Bowl and Leisure where Josh Green showed he was pretty handy with the pins before a crowd pleasing team “bonding” session in the dodgem cars.
The Australia Post AFL Community Camps are annual events that see more than 800 AFL players take the game to regional and rural communities across Australia.
