Community Camps an international success

The AFL is pleased to announce the success of the 2012/2013 Australia Post AFL Community Camps.

The Australia Post AFL Community Camps saw more than 800 AFL players take the game to regional and rural communities across Australia, as well as overseas when St Kilda Football Club visited Wellington, New Zealand in January.

AFL stars carried out training sessions and visited schools, local football clubs, nursing homes and hospitals, as well supporting fundraising events to connect individuals and communities. The following figures were achieved:

• Number of primary and secondary schools visited: 412

• Number of students involved in school visits: 58,373

• Children involved in junior club visits: 3,921

• Children involved in AFL Superclinics: 5,518

• Number of people visited at aged care centres and hospitals: 2,717

• Number of people who attended official and fundraising functions: 4,483

• Money raised for local leagues through fundraising events and functions: $76,067

• Number of people who attended community forums: 1,636

• Number of football boots (and other sports equipment) donated through Australia Post: over 600

AFL National and International Development General Manager Andrew Dillon said a fantastic level of community engagement was achieved between the 18 AFL clubs and their fans of all ages, far and wide.

“The Australia Post AFL Community Camps are a highlight of the year for many fans, in particular those who don’t have the opportunity to see their football idols regularly during the season.

“These figures reflect Australian Football’s amazing capacity to engage communities and it’s important we continue to encourage participation, a healthy lifestyle and inclusion.”

Australia Post General Manager Community Relations Andrea Pearman said the Community Camps are an important part of Australia Post’s commitment to give local communities, particularly in regional and rural areas, access to experiences they don’t usually have.

“Taking the AFL to regional and rural towns throughout Australia and providing children and members of the community with opportunities to meet their favourite AFL players and interact with the clubs is a great way to foster interaction and participation within local communities.

“In addition, the extremely generous donations from local communities to Boots For All demonstrates the great community spirit in these towns and it’s fantastic to be able to redistribute these quality second hand sports equipment including football boots and jumpers to communities in need.”

2012/2013 Australia Post AFL Community Camp location & surrounds

Adelaide	Naracoorte
Brisbane Lions	Toowoomba
Carlton	Bendigo
Collingwood	Healesville
Essendon	Myrtleford/Bright/Beechworth (linked to NAB Cup match in Wangaratta)
Fremantle	Jurien Bay/Dongara
Geelong  Cats	Cobram/Barooga
Gold Coast  Suns	Townsville (Linked to NAB Cup match)
GWS	Canberra
Hawthorn	Launceston/Hobart/Devonport
Melbourne	Cranbourne/Pakenham
North Melbourne	Ballarat
Port Adelaide	Kadina/Minlaton
Richmond	Alice Springs (Linked to All-Stars match)
St Kilda	Wellington (NZ) Mornington Peninsula
Sydney  Swans	Sydney metropolitan regions   Regional NSW locations – Wollongong, Bowral, Newcastle, Armidale, Forster, Gosford, Port Macquarie & Coffs Harbour.
West Coast Eagles	Northam
Western Bulldogs	Hamilton