'Make it happen': Flood appeals given green light

The rugby league community is uniting in the face of the floods, with several clubs across southeast Queensland coming together to raise money for victims of the recent disaster.

Mustangs Brothers RLFC at Chambers Flat will host seven matches on Saturday March 12, with Beaudesert, Jimboomba, Greenbank and Sunnybank taking part in the charity flood appeal.

The brainchild of Beaudesert Kingfishers president, Scott Bannan, the event was pulled together in one week, in what he said was a massive show of support for the local community.

Bannan – who is also a Logan City councillor – said Beaudesert usually had an annual game against Jimboomba, but it wasn’t going ahead this year due to clashing dates and the uncertainty of COVID.

However, after the floods hit Queensland and other events had to be cancelled as a result, the idea of an appeal came to Bannan.

“It just popped into my head,” Bannan said.

“It usually takes so long for these things to happen but it was approved and across the line in a day. For the BRL, QRL and Gold Coast to work together like that, it’s pretty cool.

“I wasn’t sure if we could do it but the answer has been to make it happen.

“I know how proactive everyone is and once I get something in my head, I just go pretty hard.

“It’s good to see community clubs giving back to the community. It doesn’t just have to be at the elite level, it can be the community clubs too.

“I don’t have any expectations of the day… I hope we’ll raise some good money.

“The footy is really secondary to getting together for the community. I want to encourage people to come down, switch off from the carnage and give yourself a break from what we’ve gone through.”

Bannan said he was grateful to all the organisations, clubs and people involved, including local politicians.

His own club was partially affected by the floods, with one of their fields taking on some water, but he said they would bounce back and he was mostly keen to help the “antsy” kids get back to playing some footy.

Bannan has also been instrumental in helping his community rebuild after the devastation.

He has even earned praise online after coming to the assistance of a woman who required a generator for necessary medical equipment.

His friend from KAM Constructions owns a helicopter and offered to take Bannan up to see how the floodwaters had affected the region.

While in the air the pair received an emergency call for medical assistance and so, they came to the aid of the woman.

Friends are now cheekily referring to Bannan as John Dutton – a rancher from popular television show, Yellowstone, who also flies a helicopter.

But he said he was a hands on guy and he felt best when he was actually among the community helping.

“I’m a physical type of dude,” Bannan said.

“I’m not a suit guy. I’d do all this if I was councillor or not. I like to roll my sleeves up. I just love getting into it.

“The whole community has stood up. The way everyone rallies, it makes you proud.”

The charity flood appeal matches will kick off at 10am with an under 13s clash between Beaudesert and Jimboomba at the Mustangs Brothers RLFC grounds at Chambers Flat.

There will be seven games, finishing with the division one open men’s match between Mustangs and Sunnybank at 6pm.

Elsewhere, the Maryborough community will come together on Saturday March 12 for a fun fair to raise money for the Brothers RLFC after they were hit by two floods in six weeks.

To be held at Eskdale Park from 10am, the day will include matches between the Wide Bay Bulls and Western Clydesdales, as well as footy clinics, novelty races, games and more.