The annual AFL Finals Charity Lunch was well attended on Thursday 19 September 2019 at the Karralyka Centre who again did a great job looking after the 120 people in attendance.

This year’s event was again excellently facilitated by Bruce Eva with a panel of three outstanding guests in Melbourne’s champion ruckman Max Gawn and Lauren Pierce (who also recently won the 2019 VFLW Best and Fairest) and the wonderful former St Kilda and Brisbane player and media personality, Gilbert McAdam. They each had great stories to tell and a bit more was added given the close associations that Gilbert and Bruce had with the St Kilda Football Club and Danny Frawley whose memorial service was on the day before the lunch.

Not unexpectedly, this led to some reflections on the issue of mental health and how each of our guests perceived the challenges in their own worlds. They all also shared some humorous and some inspiring stories of life in elite sport and the communities in which they have lived.

Raffles and auctions were well supported and enabled us to make a significant donation to Biala Ringwood who provide respite support for parents with children with additional needs.

A special thanks and congratulations to Grant and Nick Brookes of Warranbrooke for your auction success winning the signed Max Gawn footy jumper – well done.

Thanks to everyone who supported the event by attending or donating a raffle prize or auction item or making a donation. Special thanks too to Daryl Stevens, Jim Dean, Paul McPherson and the rest of the Board and volunteers for making the event happen and for your continued support for the Foothills Foundation and the work that we do in “Improving the lives of disadvantaged people in our community” of Maroondah, Yarra Ranges and surrounds.

Thanks also for the continued and generous sponsorship of Bendigo Community Bank Morroolbark.