Flooding in communities around the Gulf of Carpentaria will not stop the biggest One Community Carnival in history from bringing some much-needed joy to Rugby League fans in far north Queensland.
Sydney Roosters forward Willie Mason and Gold Coast Titans back-rower Mark Minichiello will be among the stars visiting communities in the Gulf, an area in which many families are currently isolated and requiring food drops due to flooding that has cut roads.
Special charter flights have been arranged to ensure the players can get to communities across the region.
“Hopefully we can put a few smiles on some faces up there,” Mason said today.
“The Community Carnival is always a fun time of the year for the boys and it means a lot to the fans in the areas we get to visit.”
The One Community Carnival runs from February 4-6 with Scott Prince, Andrew Ryan, Jarrod Mullen, Craig Fitzgibbon, Sam Thaiday and Chris Sandow among the NRL stars who will visit more than 50 communities across two countries and three states and territories, stretching from Darwin to the Southern Highlands.
NRL Chief Executive, Mr David Gallop, will join players in Harden, ARL Chief Executive, Mr Geoff Carr, will join players in Casino, Kyogle and Woodenbong while CRL Chief Executive, Mr Terry Quinn, will join players in the far west of NSW at Cobar, Nyngan and Bourke.
Storm and Warriors players will also hold activities in Geelong and Auckland respectively in the coming weeks.
The 2009 Community Carnival follows on from the success of last year’s Harvey Norman Regional Celebrations, the biggest ever celebration of the game in the bush. The Community Carnival will feature players in the following areas:
Destination |
Players |
Burnett |
Josh Morris (Bulldogs) |
Cape York |
Sam Thaiday (Broncos) |
Casino, Kyogle, Woodenbong |
Tim Browne (Sea Eagles) |
Cobar, Nyngan, Bourke |
Andrew Ryan (Bulldogs) |
Darwin |
Ben Ross (Sharks) |
Gladstone |
PJ Marsh (Broncos) |
Gulf of Carpentaria and Mid West region |
Aaron Payne (Cowboys) |
Harden, Grenfell, Boorowa |
Josh Cordoba (Eels) |
Merriwa, Coolah, Binnaway |
Steve Simpson (Knights) |
Narrabri, Wee Waa, Boggabri |
Jake Lingard (Sea Eagles) |
Southern Highlands |
Kris Keating (Eels) |
Taree, Forster, Gloucester |
Mark O’Meley (Roosters) |
Warwick |
Peter Wallace (Broncos) |