Hawks Fly Home For Community Events

02 February 2009

Still flying high from their recent AFL Premiership win, the Hawks will land in Tasmania tomorrow to host a series of community-based events ahead of the upcoming AFL season.

Acting Minister for Tourism, Lisa Singh, said members of the Hawthorn Football Club will travel around the State from tomorrow until Thursday 5 February 2009, as part of the 2009 AFL Community Camps Program.

This annual event brings players from the 16 AFL teams to the fans and their communities throughout Australia.

“The Hawthorn Community Camp is designed to benefit as many different regional communities as possible, to build on the excitement of winning the 2008 Premiership, and to prepare for the season ahead,” Ms Singh said.

“Hawthorn Football Club players and officials will host youth forums, coaching clinics and fundraising activities for local initiatives and engage with groups such as Camp Quality, Stepping Stones Children’s Services and Down Syndrome Tasmania.

“Tomorrow, between 1.30 and 3pm, the Port Arthur Historic Site will host a visit by key members of the Hawthorn team, including captain Sam Mitchell, Jordan Lewis and Xavier Ellis, who will have with them the Premiership Cup.

“A free barbecue will be held to celebrate the visit, and there will be plenty of time to obtain autographs from the players.”

The Hawks will be holding local football clinics on Wednesday 4 February at 10.00am at the following local sports grounds: Huonville Oval, Nubeena Oval, Scottsdale Oval, Smithton Oval, Swansea Recreation Oval and Ulverstone Recreational Ground.

A family day will also be hosted on Wednesday from 3.00-6.00pm, with free entry to both North Hobart Oval in the south and Aurora Stadium in the north of the State. Hawks players will be hosting a range of activities including kids’ football clinics, player training sessions and autograph signing.

“This Tassie trip is extremely exciting for the fans and club supporters as well as for the players. They had a sensational 2008 season and Tasmania is looking forward to another winning year.

“And 2009 has already got off to a great start, with a recent independent evaluation of the second year of the State Government’s five-year sponsorship of the Hawks showing a net benefit of $15 million to the State’s economy in 2008.

“The Hawthorn Football Club and the AFL has brought tangible economic benefits to Tasmania and the Community Camp is yet another example of the real benefits to our community,” Ms Singh said.

“And in another huge coup for the State, the Hawks will play their first Tasmanian home game of the 2009 AFL Premiership Season on ANZAC Day, Saturday 25 April 2009. The game against West Coast will kick off at 5.10pm and will be the first AFL game under lights at Aurora Stadium.

“The State is honoured to host an AFL match on ANZAC Day and I’m sure Tasmanians will turn out in their thousands to be a part of this incredibly significant and historic occasion,” Ms Singh said.

The Hawks will start the 2009 NAB pre-season series playing Melbourne at Aurora Stadium on Saturday 21 February.

 Further information: Margaret Lindley: 6233 2451