By AFLQ Media
AFL Queensland and the Gold Coast SUNS today announced a package to support the Townsville AFL community after the recent devastating floods.
Dean Warren, AFL Queensland CEO, made the announcement while visiting school students at Hermit Park State School as part of the Gold Coast SUNS 2019 AFL Community Camp in Townsville.
“AFL Queensland will provide $40,000 towards the local community flood relief. We’ve been amazed at the resilience of the Townsville community as they continue to recover after the recent disaster,” Warren said.
“The $40,00 will go to support clubs and individuals that were impacted by the flood disaster. We are working closely with Townsville City Council and AFL Townsville on items like ground remediation, supporting clubs with insurances excess costs and importantly the families and the participants of those locals clubs that have been impacted.”
“We are really delighted to be able to provide some assistance, while it’s only small in relative terms when you look at the size of the disaster, but we are really proud of our local football community led by AFL Townsville Chairman Maurie Soars and how they have really rallied behind their clubs and individuals.”
AFL Queensland will also be discounting the cost of NAB AFL Auskick registration by 25% for community club based centres.
While in Townsville Warren also announced that the annual North Queensland v South Queensland Representative Match would be played as a curtain closer to the Toyota AFL Premiership Round 13 Match when Gold Coast SUNS meet St Kilda Saints at Riverway Stadium on June 15.
“We are delighted to bring our very best regional and QFA players to Townsville for our North Queensland v South Queensland Representative match, as part of what will be a fantastic day of footy at Riverway Stadium.”
Cr Jenny Hill, Mayor of Townsville, said she wanted to see Riverway Stadium sold out for the June 15 match.
“This game actually helps us with recovery, we know the recovery will take at least 12 to 18 months for a lot of families so having these sort of events over the next few months brings normality back into peoples lives and that’s really what we need to see,” Cr Hill said.
State Member for Townsville, Scott Stewart, emphasised the importance of the match in helping rebuild the local community.
“Quite often we get asked by people right across the state, how can we help support the people of Townsville? The best thing you can do is come along to our games, come along to this super weekend of footy and book your accommodation, spend a little money in our city.
“It keeps our businesses going, it really helps rejuvenate our city, and this is the time that we need it. Come and see our great city in the best time of the year,” he added.
Speaking on behalf of the Gold Coast SUNS, Sam Day announced the Northern Suns Junior Footy Membership initiative for local Townsville junior football players.
“We know Townsville had a tough time of late so we are excited as part of the Gold Coast SUNS and AFLQ to offer complimentary Northern SUNS jonior footy memberships to all the junior kids that are signing up at their local clubs.”
“This will give the kids access to or game for free when we play St Kilda on June 15 at Riverway Stadium. Really excited to announce that the SUNS and AFLQ have partnered up and hoping to get as many people as possible out to our game on June 15, and hopefully the kids enjoy it.”
The Gold Coast SUNS will host the St Kilda Saints at Riverway Stadium for the 2019 Toyota AFL Premiership Round 13 on Saturday, June 15.
Details on how to buy tickets will be available on goldcoast.com.au soon.
