What’s the Buzz: Alex McKinnon will build a wheelchair-access home in Newcastle
WHAT’S THE BUZZ: ALEX McKinnon has bought a block of land in Newcastle to build a wheelchair-access home where he will settle.
Opinion
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ALEX McKinnon has bought a block of land in Newcastle to build a wheelchair-access home where he will settle.
The former Knights forward used money from his Rise for Alex fund to buy the property so that he can remain close to his Newcastle teammates and friends for the rest of his life.
Architects are now designing a house that will enable him to cope with his circumstances in the most comfortable way possible.
He has hopes of moving into the house next year.
McKinnon was flown to the Gold Coast on Friday, where he will begin further rehabilitation treatment at one of the country’s leading private hospitals.
He had been under the care of the Royal Rehabilitation Centre in Ryde for several months.
Another fundraiser will be held for the former Knights forward in his home town of Aberdeen on November 22 to raise money for his continued rehabilitation and
long-term care.
About 100 of 500 tickets are still available. Seats or tables can be purchased by phoning 6543 7259 from Monday to Friday.
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ASIDE from what has been achieved with the wonderful Rise For Alex campaign, there is some great fundraising in other sports.
Nick Souter is a 35-year-old Bronte triathlete who was the first Australian home in the 35-39 age group, finishing in 46th place at the world ironman titles last week. Not surprisingly, Souter didn’t get the same recognition as Mirinda Carfrae’s effort to win the women’s championship in Kona.
However, Nick combined his training for this event with fundraising for the Stand Tall for a Cure Foundation.
His efforts raised close to $30,000 to support his mate Drew Schofield, who suffers from Becker Muscular Dystrophy.
SUTTON TAKES A SEAT IN LEGACY’S HALL OF FAME
SOUTH Sydney captain John Sutton is already making the most of some off-season downtime by supporting one of his favourite charities — Legacy Australia.
After leading the Rabbitohs to their first premiership in 43 years, Sutton is among 40
Australians chosen to paint a chair in a Take A Seat For Legacy campaign.
The chairs will be auctioned online at www.templeandwebster.com.au — starting at 7pm next Wednesday and concluding on Thursday, October 30.
Sutton admits he had a little help when designing his masterpiece, thanks to some of his colleagues at Souths Cares.
“I can’t take all the credit but I’m very happy with the outcome,” Sutton said. “It’s very fulfilling to be able to contribute to a good charity like Legacy.”
Other famous personalities to design and paint a chair include Tim Cahill, Paul Hogan, Johanna Griggs, Melissa Doyle, Chris Bath and Rebecca Judd.
SPONSORSHIP A HOWLING SUCCESS FOR SIXERS
IT’S great to see the Sydney Sixers cricketers and their love for our canine friends.
Moises Henriques and Sean Abbott often turn up to cricket training with their dogs in tow.
Last week, they were part of a photo shoot to celebrate Purina Supercoat pet foods renewing a major sponsorship for another three years.
“It’s great that we have sponsors at the Sixers that are relevant to us and to our fans,“ Sixers all-rounder Henriques said.
“And our dogs will obviously be well fed, too.”
POM’S NRL SHOPPING LIST
MARWAN Koukash, the multi-millionaire English turf magnate and owner of Super League club Salford, will arrive in Australia this week in his bid to buy into an NRL club.
Koukash is a self-confessed league nut. “Some people call me crazy, but I love the sport (rugby league),” he said recently. “I can’t see myself not being involved (in the NRL) in the best rugby competition in the world.”
He’s ruled out any interest in the ailing Wests Tigers, but said he was whittling down his shopping list to “one or two” clubs.
It’s known that Newcastle Knights are on the list, as the club is currently for sale after Nathan Tinkler walked away.
The NRL is funding the Knights and no doubt will roll out the red carpet to get Koukash interested.
The NRL might have competition for the Koukash investment in the Hunter, as Tinkler desperately tries to off-load his A-League club the Newcastle Jets for a third of the price of the NRL team.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS FOR TITANS DUO
FORMER Gold Coast Titans managing director Michael Searle and ex-coach John Cartwright are happily holidaying in the US together. The Titans meanwhile are dealing with a $300,000 fine for a salary-cap breach involving Scott Prince caused by other former staffers who have since left the club.
MCKAY UP FOR NO ARGUMENT
SOCCEROO midfielder Matt McKay was appointed as president of the soccer players’ union, the PFA, last week. Within days, McKay was sent off and given a two-week ban from the A-League for a foul-mouthed tirade towards a ref. The next round of pay negotiations should be colourful with McKay at the table.
POSTECOGLOU FEELS THE HEAT
PRESSURE is building on Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou to get results at the fast-approaching Asian Cup.
He’s been at the helm for almost 12 months, with only two wins from 11 matches.
Brave losses at the World Cup are acceptable, but last week’s 1-0 loss to Qatar is not.
If you want to keep your job as coach of Australia’s national soccer teams, the last thing you want is a run of bad results.
In less than two years, FFA’s David Gallop has sacked Holger Osieck and Hesterine de Reus from the top men and women’s jobs.
SPORT STARS HIT VEGAS
LAS Vegas is overflowing with Aussie sports stars. Most of South Sydney’s grand final players who aren’t in the Four Nations are holidaying in the casino city. So, too, is Channel Nine personality Yvonne Sampson. Also in town was champion Red Bull pilot Matt Hall, who was spotted chatting to America’s Cup winner James Spithill and motocross star Robbie Maddison.
DEVLIN REPLACES ELKIN
ANY hopes that banned head trainer Trent Elkin had of returning to the Parramatta Eels have been dashed.
The Eels have appointed Melbourne Storm high- performance manager Paul Devlin for next season as a replacement for Elkin.
Eels coach Brad Arthur believes Devlin has the credentials to rip his side into shape for 2015.
SAINT
JARRYD Hayne’s courage to throw away a rugby league career to pursue an even bigger NFL dream is a wonderful example for goal-setting youngsters, not just in sport but life in general. I so hope he makes it.
SINNER
THEBen Flowercheap shot on former Kiwi Test starLance Hohaia in the English Super League grand final was one of the worst acts of thuggery I have seen on a football field. He should try his hand in the sport that is banned from this column, where this sort of violence is common practice.
SHOOSH
WHICH well-known NRL personality dropped $150,000 at the races on a disastrous Saturday afternoon the day before the grand final.
FLANNO’S SAD LOSS
WHAT a terrible year it has been for Sharks coach Shane Flanagan, whose mum passed away last weekend just as he’s preparing to return to work from the ASADA suspension. They were extremely close. Our thoughts are with his family.
SPOTTED
IT’S great to see so many rugby league types, who, like your columnist, turn to soccer in the off-season. We spotted Souths chairman Nick Pappas and Roosters legend Anthony Minichiello at the Sydney FC v Melbourne City game at Allianz Stadium last weekend.
SPOTTED II
TODD Carney playing the pokies at the Astor Hotel in Goulburn.
SPOTTED III
PHILLIP Ronald Gould at the National Oztag junior championships in Coffs Harbour. Fortunately, we haven’t crossed paths.
EAGLES EYE KIMMORLEY
MANLY are yet to decide on their assistant coaching roles for next year. There is no question Geoff Toovey needs more help and it’s why the name of former Northern Eagles halfback Brett Kimmorley has been mentioned around the traps.
FOX LOOKING TO LUKIS
FOX Sports has done screen tests with a number of talented female presenters to find a replacement for the Adelaide-bound Alana Smith. We’re told Sami Lukis made a great impression. Sami is one of Australia’s most versatile media performers, now working as a guest presenter on The Morning Show and Sunrise on Seven.
What Seibold’s revival says about ‘cursed’ Broncos coaching role
“It’s you not us’’ was the cry when Anthony Seibold was effectively shown the door in Brisbane. Maybe, ROBERT CRADDOCK writes, it was the Broncos all along.
Buzz: Proof NRL’s high tackle ‘crackdown’ denial is a load of rubbish
The NRL hates us using the word crackdown, but there is no denying the cold, hard facts. PHIL ROTHFIELD reveals the sharp spike in sin-bins for high tackle offences.