Rugby league players are used to packing scrums and wrapping up the ball on the field, but in festive twist, some South Logan Magpies club representatives were able to put those skills to good use to help their local community late last year.
Hostplus Cup coach Steve Bretherton, club CEO Jim McClelland and his wife Barb, player Karmichael Hunt and his family and other club volunteers set about packing up hampers and wrapping gift boxes on Christmas Eve to help Micah Projects with their annual Christmas hamper charity run.
“It was a great event and a fantastic way to end the 2021 year,” McClelland said.
Micah Projects, a not-for-profit community organisation based at West End, have been packing hampers for families in need since 2000, but thanks to an outpouring of generosity, they found that they did not have the space to prepare their hampers for delivery.
In 2021, 484 food hampers, 160 fresh fruit hampers and 142 small fresh fruit hampers were delivered to 531 children and 570 adults across Brisbane.
Mark Bunting, who is a cluster team leader at Micah Projects, said the organisation and the club had a long-established partnership, with Magpies players and staff giving up their time to assist in past projects, and he was happy to once again be able to count on their help.
“The support we received from Souths Logan staff and players is truly amazing. Not only were we using their space, but players and staff organised donations to help out with our hampers as well as helping on the day,” Bunting said.
“On the day, Jim, coach Steve, Barb and Joan (Baillie) and Karmichael Hunt and his daughters cooked a barbecue for all the volunteers and staff working on the day.
“This was so appreciated by everyone involved in the day.
“Without the help of Souths, the hamper day for Micah Projects and the community would not be able to be as big as it was.
“We can’t thank everyone at Souths for their generosity, assistance and willingness to bend over backwards with all our requests and we look forward to continuing our partnership with Souths Logan who are so very community-minded in the local West End area.”
With attention now turning to the field and season 2022 preparations, this year, Hunt is embarking on his coaching journey with the club’s Auswide Bank Mal Meninga Cup side.
A Magpies junior, the former Queensland Maroons star returned to the club last season and made his senior debut on his way to once again playing for the Brisbane Broncos in the NRL.
“I have a real passion for helping the next generation of players coming through, and coaching this years’ Auswide Bank Mal Meninga Cup team gives me the opportunity to do so,” Hunt said following his appointment to the coaching role.
The Auswide Bank Mal Meninga Cup competition will kick off on February 26 alongside the Cyril Connell Challenge and Harvey Norman Under 19 competitions.
Match: Seagulls v Magpies
Round 1 -
home Team
Seagulls
away Team
Magpies
Venue: Tugun RLFC, Tugun
Souths Logan's Hostplus Cup side start their season on Sunday, March 20, against Central Queensland Capras, while the club’s reinstated QRLW team launch their 2022 campaign on March 26 against crosstown rivals Brisbane Tigers.
The Hastings Deering Colts team will be looking to build on their 2021 finals appearance when they start their competition with their Round 1 match against Sunshine Coast Falcons on April 2.
