Two AFL Sydney clubs have celebrated this year winning beneficial half-day visits to the Sydney Swans and GWS GIANTS respectively, thanks to the 2016 FOX FOOTY Club Rewards program.
Western Magic AFC and the Camden Cats Senior AFC were recognised for their outstanding contributions to their local communities through a number of beneficial initiatives.
As reward for their work, the Magic visited the Swans and the Cats met the GIANTS for half-day visits that included sitting in on team and coach meetings, observing training and having informal Q&A sessions with respective head coaches, John Longmire and Leon Cameron.
The FOX FOOTY Club Rewards program is an initiative driven by Foxtel to support grassroots sport and recognise football clubs and the benefit they deliver to their local community.
The Western Magic have been proud supporters of the White Ribbon Australia and beyondblue foundations, by annually holding their Ladies & Family Day, plus their Sports Golf Day to raise funds directly for both charities. The club also supports the ‘beyondblue Sock Round’, to raise funds and awareness for mental health amongst men and also the ‘Pink Sock Round’, raising funds for breast cancer awareness and research.
Crucially, Blacktown is the largest LGA for Indigenous population in Australia, with the Magic working closely to support members of their indigenous community within their football club. They proudly wear the community’s local indigenous designs on their jumper as a sign of this relationship.
The Camden Cats Senior AFC identified the opportunity this year to join with the Camden/Wollondilly Domestic Violence Committee as the club’s official Community Partner, to help raise funds and awareness in improving service delivery to women and children experiencing domestic violence in their local government areas.
The club has been proactive in implementing the ‘SayNo2DV’ campaign, displaying signage and anti-DV messages at all our home matches, distributing awareness material in the local community and having all players take and sign the white ribbon oath.
With the goal to raise $50,000 over the next three years, all proceeds from the club’s Ladies Luncheons and black-tie events will go towards the Camden/Wollondilly Domestic Violence Committee – a 300% increase in their average funding.
National Ambassador for the program and former St Kilda Football Club captain, Danny Frawley, said the program, in its second year of running, continues to reward local clubs with opportunities to learn from the AFL’s elite personnel.
“Local sporting clubs are at the heart of local communities all over Australia and it is fantastic to have organisation such as Foxtel continue to invest at the level where it all begins for so many our AFL players. Hopefully the experiences they undertake as part of the program
ensures they continue to grow and develop as a football club and as a strong hold presence in their local community,” Frawley said.
The FOX FOOTY Club Rewards program will also reward 50 local football clubs with the chance to hear from an elite AFL club’s coaching panel in Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide. Furthermore, another 17 clubs will also have the opportunity to get a sense of the professionalism of an AFL club when they visit an AFL club’s training facilities or experience an AFL club’s inner sanctum on match day.
Foxtel Director of Sports Marketing, Chantal Walker, said Foxtel was pleased to continue a partnership with the AFL Coaches Association and FOX FOOTY to deliver to the grassroots clubs for their ongoing work to contribute to their community.
“It is important to recognise the football clubs that put activities or programs in place to say thank you to their local communities who support them at a grassroots level. We hope that these experiences will provide the clubs with a significant benefit to continue to their great work,” said Walker.
For more information on the FOX FOOTY Club Rewards program, visit www.foxtel.com.au/foxfootyclubrewards
Last Modified on 21/09/2016 10:03
