Matt Francis – Tweed Seagulls CEO
In what has been another challenging year for all, the Seagulls are one training run away from finals football this week.
Our journey would not have been possible without the staunch support of all our sponsors and members and we acknowledge that critical support that allows us to provide a pathway for local male and female players who aspire to play at the highest level.
We also acknowledge the continued partnership with Seagulls Club and the Norths Collective who have also been unstinting in their support along with our affiliate club the Gold Coast Titans and our governing body in the QRL.
Border closures and NRL COVID restrictions have meant that we have struggled to field a fit team in recent weeks, but we have troops returning this week and will field a strong team in the Channel 9 broadcast game against the highly-fancied Norths on Sunday with our Colts playing in the curtain-raiser elimination game against South Logan. Both games are games at Bishop Park in Brisbane.
The border closure has also meant that we have been unable to train or play at Piggabeen and have all our sponsors and home supporters in attendance.
In this time Ben Campbell’s team from Campbell Construction Co have been able to complete our new multi-purpose facility that will bring the Club to best-practice levels and I thank Ben and Sara Campbell for their personal support that has ensured a facility that will take Seagulls to a new level of operations.
The new facility has also allowed us to reclaim our Club House with Seagulls Club taking over operations with the Preston Campbell Foundation partnering in the running of the canteen providing training and employment pathways for local Indigenous youth.
We will be holding a sponsors function at the new Clubhouse prior to the first trial to give you all a preview of how we will be better able to accommodate you and your guests across the season.
We had a soft launch of the partnership with the Preston Campbell Foundation at our appreciation breakfast at Little Cooly Pizza Pasta bar during the week where Preston and our Gold Coast Airport Women’s captain Georgia Hale were involved in the presentation of two special Tom Searle scholarships with the event being reported on Channel 9 news:
As proud as I am of the teams taking the field on the weekend, the stories of our two Tom Searle Scholarship recipients show why I am equally proud of what our players do in partnership with our sponsors and community organisations away from the game.
Preston interviewed Brooke Saddler who could not make it across the border and her inspirational story shows she is already a great role model for Indigenous youth on and off the field. Her Tom Searle scholarship is sponsored by MaxCoaching where she’ll receive specialist career advice of Jane Lowder.
Darek Turvey was undoubtedly the star of the morning. Darek was introduced to rugby league by Georgia Hale who works with our community partner Support Mates that provides specialist services under the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
Darek is our first all ability signing and will also be provided workplacement opportunities with Paul O’Brien at AirPhysio and Seagull Club who have also provided four gym memberships so he can invite his friends from Support Mates to work out with him.
This is what makes Seagulls more than a footy club and it is the spirit that the boys will take on the field with them on Sunday.
It is the people who make our Club and our playing group are great ambassadors under the leadership of their coaching and support staff.
In Ben Woolf, Matt King, Tim Macaan, Chris O’Connell and Neil Richards we are blessed with quality coaches who also invest in our players as individuals.
That’s what makes a true footy club.
For those of you who can’t make it across the border the game will be live on the big screen at the Club.
Thanks again to all for your support.
Go the Gulls!
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