Queensland Rugby Relief: sports community rallies to help relief efforts after Cyclone Debbie
AN appeal to the hearts and deep pockets of rugby fans has been launched to help rescue Queensland clubs smashed by the fury of Cyclone Debbie.
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AN appeal to the hearts and deep pockets of rugby fans has been launched to help rescue Queensland clubs smashed by the fury of Cyclone Debbie.
Queensland Rugby Relief has been formed by the Queensland Rugby Union and has the backing of Reds’ naming rights partner St George Bank.
QRU fundraisers will be at Saturday night’s Reds-Hurricanes match at Suncorp Stadium selling raffle tickets to raise money.
Gold coin donations will be gathered at Ballymore on Sunday at the Queensland-NSW final of the Australian Under-20s championship.
The Mackay District Rugby Union is still assessing the damage at their six far-flung clubs after this week’s heavenly turmoil.
With just two weeks until the kick-off to a new season, both the Bowen Mudcrabs and the Proserpine Whitsunday Raiders are no chance of hosting games.
“The Bowen ground has been annihilated by Cyclone Debbie … trees down everywhere and you can’t believe the goalposts,” Mackay District Rugby Union president Mick Saunders said.
“I’ve never seen wind bend steel but those posts are now at 45-50 degrees to the ground.
“The goalposts have been snapped at the Proserpine Whitsunday club at Airlie Beach, the front awning has been torn off and trees have been stripped.
“The Mackay grounds have been under water for three days so it’s clean-up mode everywhere.
“I’m yet to drive to Slade Point and Mackay Brothers to check the damage at those clubs.”
Funds raised from Queensland Rugby Relief will be directed to financial and practical relief at rugby clubs affected by the cyclone.
St. George Bank will match all donations at the stadium on Saturday dollar for dollar.
“Rugby clubs, especially in the Mackay region of Queensland, have been impacted by the wind and the rain Cyclone Debbie brought to our state,” QRU chief executive Richard Barker said.
“The rugby community is resilient and always helps those in need.
“We are encouraging Reds fans to come to the game on Saturday to cheer the Reds and to show solidarity with other members of our rugby family who have been hardest hit by this cyclone through donations to ‘Queensland Rugby Relief’.
“We are still receiving reports of other clubs in Queensland who have been affected by this week’s weather so we will continue to fundraise in the coming weeks and direct funds to those clubs most severely affected.”
Originally published as Queensland Rugby Relief: sports community rallies to help relief efforts after Cyclone Debbie
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