Jennifer Board memorial football carnival
A close friend of the late Jennifer Board says it’s “overwhelming” to see the annual memorial football carnival in her name continue to grow, with more than 300 players ready to take the field this Saturday.
Townsville
Don't miss out on the headlines from Townsville. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A close friend of the late Jennifer Board says it’s “overwhelming” to see the annual memorial football carnival in her name continue to grow, with more than 300 players ready to take the field this Saturday.
The Jennifer Board Memorial Football Carnival has seen participation soar since it started three years ago, expanding from 20 teams initially to 32 teams this year.
Jennifer, an avid soccer and futsal player, tragically lost her life in 2021 when she was struck by a driver allegedly chasing a stolen car while she was riding her motorbike in Townsville.
In the wake of her passing, Jennifer’s close friends, including Luke Southgate, organised the first memorial carnival as a way to bring the community together, celebrate Jennifer’s life, and raise money for a cause close to her heart – local animal welfare organisation Angel Paws.
Reflecting on the growth of the event since then, Mr Southgate said, “It’s probably more of a reflection of (Jen) than any of the organisers or the event itself that this many people want to come down and help. The support we get from sponsors and volunteers each year is overwhelming.”
Mr Southgate hopes that this year’s event will raise over $1,000 to make a donation to Angel Paws in her name.
Reminiscing about his time with Jennifer, Mr Southgate shared, “Jen was a close friend of mine and her sister. We only lived close by to each other, so we were always hanging out and we’d often play football on the same team or against each other.”
The carnival kicks off at 8am on Saturday at Victoria Park, with the grand final taking place at 6.15pm.
More Coverage
Originally published as Jennifer Board memorial football carnival
$10m pledge for dragstrip completion to combat illegal hoons
With over $20m already committed by the state to upgrade Townsville’s DriveIT NQ motorsport facility, the KAP has vowed to secure the final $10m needed to complete the drag strip and build a speedway.
Police declare crime scene after Pimlico unit fire
Townsville police launched an investigation and declared a crime scene after a unit fire in Pimlico. Read the latest.