Page 99 - AFL QUEENSLAND 2012 YEAR IN REVIEW

SUNSHINE COAST
January brought more rain and huge disruptions again for a couple of local clubs, most notably Nambour and Gympie who had suffered flood damage in 2010. The coming together of the clubs to get back on the paddock was truly something to behold.
In February it was another edition of the Australia Post AFL Community Camps with the Brisbane Lions spread far and wide across the Sunshine Coast to promote AFL. Over 2000 students from over 40 primary and secondary schools took part in the “Lion Hearted Leaders” program, while 750 players and parents turned out for player visits at local clubs.
March saw the first ever NAB Cup match played on the coast at the Maroochy Multisport Complex. Carlton and the Lions did battle before 5,000 spectators in a magnificent day held
in a carnival atmosphere. With nearly all AFLQ staff working tirelessly to make this happen it was a great example of working together to get a tremendous outcome. It was a long day but one that will not be forgotten anytime soon!
In April the launch of the inaugural season of the Youth Girls competition was huge, with six teams competing on Friday night in front of the State Minister for National Parks, Recreation and Racing Steve Dickson, State Minister and Parliamentary Speaker Fiona Simpson, local councillor Ted Hungerford and a host of other dignitaries. It was to be the start of a very successful addition to the AFL Sunshine Coast Juniors competition.
June brought the 10 year anniversary for the Kawana Park Eagles who taken their club from scratch to be the second largest on the Sunshine Coast. Their celebration dinner brought 160 people together with Sam Kekovich as headline act.
The signing of Noosa product Cain Tickner to a two-year Brisbane Lions Academy Scholarship happened in August and signalled the real possibility of Cain being one of the first graduates of the Academy to be put on the Brisbane Lions
primary list in 2013. While still to come to fruition it is a big honour and he was the first from the Academy to be signed up in such a way.
Early September brought success in the way of the junior and senior girls’ teams at Mountain Creek State High School in the Jonathan Brown Cup, both beating all comers to claim champion status.
Late September brought the devastation of the Caloundra AFC’s clubhouse due to fire, but with it brought an army of support from the AFL and local communities. Several hundred thousand dollars worth of damage was done and while the rebuilding is still continuing it is well underway.
2012 has presented another massive year for AFL Queensland on the Sunshine Coast. Overall the year has had many highlights and “firsts”.
Bring on 2013!
MARK KENNEDY
SUNSHINE COAST DEVELOPMENT MANAGER
Picture: Sunshine Coast youth girls
AFL Queensland
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