Page 64 - Tropic Magazine Issue 18

TROPIC • COMMUNITY

Brotherly love

GIVING BACK
How members of a Cairns rugby league social club are giving
back to the local community.

Words Renee Cluff
You might be surprised to learn that accommodation with education,” Mr
Brothers Leagues Club at Manunda, Cockrem said. “Brothers Leagues Club
which also operates Fuller Sports funds a bus, enabling them to provide
Club at Edmonton, is a not-for-profit a morning and afternoon service to The MaraWay Community Hub
organisation, with 100% of surplus and from school, plus the children get
funds injected into local sporting, a healthy breakfast to start the day.”
charity and community groups. It’s not the only transport initiative
Primarily, its objective is to help grow Brothers Leagues Club is involved in.
rugby league but it now also supports The organisation also finances the local
a wide range of sports within the Transport to Treatment service for
local community from lawn bowls to cancer patients. The Cancer Council’s
rugby union, gymnastics, netball and business development manager, Linda
cricket. Chairman Greg Cockrem told Graham, said it’s a vital community
Tropic developing children’s sport is a service. “Brothers shows that it cares
priority. “It’s important that children about and supports Cairns residents
are active and involved in sports,” he receiving treatment,” she said. “Being
said. “We as a club encourage this, able to meet clients’ transport needs
especially in an age where screens when they may not have any other
are becoming the main source of option and hearing their gratitude for
entertainment.” the service is testament to the merits
of the service.” In fact it’s so popular
Brothers Leagues Club is now looking
It’s important that children are to support a second vehicle within the
community.
active and involved in sports. Chairman Greg Cockrem said such
initiatives wouldn’t be possible without
the support of the club’s members.
However, supporting active children “Being a member of Brothers Leagues
is just the beginning for this Club makes you a good corporate
community-minded club. Among its citizen too because you’re contributing
other commitments is a transport to all the good things we do in the
service for The MaraWay, which assists community,” he said.
people experiencing hardship. “We “The more members, the stronger
are particularly proud to support the donations are and the more we
The MaraWay’s ‘Let’s Get Back to can improve the services that need
School’ program, which is aimed at our help. It’s all about Cairns locals
re-engaging youth living in crisis supporting Cairns locals.”

BROTHERS: History of service
1974 2018

200 members 30,000+ members
$1000 donation to Brothers $685,000 in donations to local
Football organisations

MORE: brotherscairns.com.au The original 1970s clubhouse

64 • Tropic • Issue 18