Black Saturday: Whittlesea and Kinglake football clubs to commemorate community spirit
Two football clubs impacted by the devastating Black Saturday bushfires will come together to commemorate the 10-year anniversary in a show of community solidarity.
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Two football clubs impacted by the devastating Black Saturday bushfires will come together to commemorate the 10-year anniversary in a show of community solidarity.
Whittlesea and Kinglake will host a Legends Match on Sunday, February 10, at Whittlesea Showgrounds, a venue which acted as a refuge for many residents fleeing the bushfires in February, 2009.
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The showgrounds were a staging point for Country Fire Authority volunteers as they battled a blaze which caused 159 deaths.
The Legends Match, which will feature past greats from the Northern Football League and AFL Outer East clubs, has been organised to remember and celebrate the spirit shown by members of the Kinglake and Whittlesea communities.
“It’s pretty raw to some of the people that were involved, so you don’t want to recount what happened,” organiser Adrian Stewart said.
“But you also want to be able to mark it in a way that still brings communities together, but in a way that’s a bit more fun and enjoyable for everyone.
“We thought a legends match would be a good way.
“Because Kinglake and Whittlesea are in two different leagues, we don’t play each other. We haven’t played each other since probably that year (2009), at least.”
Stewart said he hoped the event would offer those affected by the bushfires a chance to “move forward”.
“Kinglake was one of the main communities that was affected and Whittlesea was a support community,” he said.
“Our football ground was basically the action hub for the next couple of months.
“Basically a lot of what was happening from the fire services and the police point of view was being organised out of the showgrounds.
“Whittlesea was supporting Kinglake in that way. Obviously there was people from Whittlesea who were affected as well.
“Our two communities came together to help and this is just another way of bringing the communities together to (celebrate) that camaraderie.”
Kinglake president Clint Robinson, a longtime resident of the town, said the football and netball clubs had played a “huge” role in helping the community rebuild.
“I know the 2009 year was a big year,” he said.
“A lot of past players came back to help the club out and it played its role in being a place where people could come together afterwards.
“I think it was pretty important for the community.”
Robinson said Kinglake legends had jumped at the chance to be involved.
“I thought it would be tough putting a team together of past legends and guys that haven’t played for so long,” he said.
“But it’s been a lot easier than I have thought. Everyone I have asked has been keen to be involved.”
Whittlesea will have five-time premiership coach Les Russell in charge, while Rod Luscomb (three flags) and Peter Bugden (dual NFL premiership coach) will serve as assistants.
“The result doesn’t really matter, it’s just a way of getting together,” Stewart said.
The Legends Match starts at 4.30pm next Sunday.
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