STARS HELP OUT IN TIME OF NEED
DON’T accuse the Gold Coast’s sporting stars of shirking their responsibility when it comes to the nation’s bushfire crisis.
While the bigwigs like Shane Warne raise squillions, other like Mudgeeraba Aussie rules junior and Collingwood star Dayne Beams has quietly sold his 2010 premiership medal to do his part.
Beams, 29, announced this week that he would auction his prized medal in an attempt to raise funds for communities that have been affected by the devastating blazes.
But, in a twist, as the auction drew to a close, Beams revealed that club president Eddie McGuire and the club had done their utmost to keep the medal at the club, buying it for $27,500.
“A big thank you to Ed and the footy club for purchasing the medal,” Beams said on Instagram.
“It’s a little bit funny, but fantastic that it’s staying at the Holden Centre and everyone can get a look at it.
“The most important thing is the amount of money that we raised … it’s going to people that really need it at this time.”
The midfielder claimed the medal in the historic 2010 replay, adding to its priceless nature.
“With the terrible bushfires going on and the amount of people that have lost everything I’ve decided to auction off my premiership medal to raise as much money as I can,” he wrote on Instagram.
“Dig deep legends.” Then there’s Bond University’s dual international Millie Boyle.
She was at a social rugby sevens tournament in Texas when she heard that the prolonged bushfire threat in NSW was swinging towards her home of Cobargo on the NSW south coast.
Whenever Boyle has a break from her roles as a forward for the Jillaroos, Wallaroos, NSW Origin team, Broncos and Burleigh sides, the 21 year-old can be found on the family farm just south of the Cobargo village.
“I was due to come home to Australia anyway but as soon as I heard about the fires near home I got here as fast as I could,” Boyle told NRL.com.
“They saved the home. My sister and my dad managed to water it down well before they left.”
She has since set up a GoFundMe page with the link on her Instagram site.
The page had raised almost $9000 as of last night.
AS SOON AS I HEARD ABOUT THE FIRES NEAR HOME I GOT HERE AS FAST AS I COULD
MILLIE BOYLE ON THE BUSHFIRES