This week the Hawks are in Tasmania as part of the 2011 Telstra AFL Community Camp.
Day one saw the camp head to Launceston, King Island, Hobart and Devonport for the Hawks Fun Days and charity events in the evening.
Launceston A
On day one, Launceston A split into two groups with the first group including Michael Osborne and Stephen Gilham, who headed to South Launceston McDonald’s to greet customers and sign autographs at the busy restaurant.
The second group - Jordan Lewis, Ryan Schoenmakers, Paul Puopolo, Jordan Lisle, Matthew Suckling and Will Sierakowski met up with the first in the afternoon and headed to Prospect Park for the Hawks Fun Day. The players interacted with the kids in a number of different sporting activities including frisbee, cricket, basketball, soccer, drumming, totem tennis along with signing plenty of autographs.
In the evening, the players joined in at a charity fundraiser for Whitelion and Youth on Patterson, talking to guests, getting involved and signing autographs.
Jordan Lewis with Golden Ticket winner Erica Dobson and her children at the Hawks Fun Day at Prospect Park.
Michael Osborne and Stephen Gilham with some lucky McDonald’s customers.
Launceston B
Early in the morning the Launceston B group took off to Launceston General Hospital children’s ward, where eight brave children were awaiting a visit. The group toured the ward and chatted with all the young children. Travis Tuck tried his hand on a few Wii games, while other players went play-shopping and on the trains with some of the kids.
The group then met up with the Launceston A group at the Hawks Fun Day at Prospect Park. The group celebrated the new amalgamation of Hawthorn Football Club and Prospect Sharks who have been renamed the Prospect Hawks.
Grant Birchall and Sam Mitchell led a cricket match, while everyone had a go at volleyball, totem tennis, Takio drumming and the football stations. There were approximately 250 kids in attendance at the fun day.
The group then attended the Whitelion and Youth on Patterson charity function at Aurora Stadium. The kids had a fantastic time handballing against the players.
Jordan Lewis enjoying the Taiko drums with some new friends.
Sam Mitchell and Angus Litherland having a hit of cricket with the kids.
Sam Mitchell and Grant Birchall enjoying the hospitality at Strathlyn Vineyards.
Grant Birchall and Sam Mitchell take a tour of the winery.
King Island
The King Island group’s first activity was a nature walk with King Island Wilderness Walks, with beautiful scenery along British Admiral Beach and Porky Beach. Max Bailey and Shane Savage even had a swim in the chilly ocean.
The group then visted Fruit & Veg Youth Centre where they played sports in the park with the kids and also had a BBQ lunch with around 15 kids.
The last stop was a football clinic at Currie Oval with kids from the local football clubs, with around 20 kids having a kick and handball with the players.
Max Bailey and Shane Savage with the kids and staff of the Fruit & Veg Youth Centre.
Max Bailey and Shane Savage with Sharelle Tepper from King Island Wilderness Walks at Porky Beach.
Devonport
After arriving in Devonport, Josh Gibson, Brad Sewell, Liam Shiels, Jordan Williams and Sam Menegola got straight off the plane and into a helicopter for a scenic ride for a half hour flight along Tasmania’s North West coast.
Meanwhile, Jarryd Morton and Tom Schneider interacted with the local Devonport fans at a local McDonald’s restaurant.
The group reunited for lunch and then made their way to Ulverstone where the boys joined in with a local community event which demonstrated many different types of sports and activities. The seven players along with around 200 locals participated in such activities as football, cricket, hockey and even belly dancing.
In the evening, the players headed along to a fundraising event for Choose Life Services, an organization mainly helping members the community deal with suicide prevention and other mental health issues.
Hobart A and B
The first day of the Hobart camp started off a bit wet for the groups in the south - but the rain did little to dampen the excitement of the players or supporters!
A group of players headed out to Huonville and were treated to an awesome jet boating experience on the river by the fabulous people at Huon Jet Boats. At the same time, the rest of the players visited Kingston McDonald’s to meet patrons and highlight the growing partnership with McDonald’s in the state of Tasmania.
Down to Snug the players ventured in the afternoon to the Kingborough Fun Day. Here, players got involved in a range of sporting activities until the rain forced us inside where approximately 150 excited kids got to meet their idols and get a signature. Some continued to brave the rain with Rick Ladson and Ben Stratton to play a spot of tennis.
In the evening, all sixteen players and staff headed to the Bellarive Yacht Club to help the Leukaemia Foundation launch the World’s Greatest Shave. Rick Ladson had already committed to shaving his head on the night, but when the group arrived, three others put their hands and up and went under the clippers.
It was great to be involved in such a great cause, encouraging others to get together and support the Leukaemia Foundation’s biggest fundraiser for the year. The World’s Greatest Shave is happening from 10-12 March, find out more.
Rick Ladson gets the buzz for the World’s Greatest Shave.
The Hobart B players with McDonald’s guests.
Clinton Young and Luke Hodge sign autographs for fans.
Return to the 2011 Community Camp page.
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