Port Adelaide’s AFL playing group will head to Yorke Peninsula in February for its 2013 Australia Post AFL Community Camp.
The team will visit the region on Monday 18 February and Tuesday 19 February.
Players will speak with students at 21 schools across the peninsula, taking healthy living messages into classrooms and assemblies. They will also visit more than a dozen hospitals and aged care centres, along with the Aboriginal community at Point Pearce.
Locals will have a great opportunity to interact with the group at NAB AFL Auskick clinics and community barbecues in Kadina and Minlaton on the Monday evening.
The club has also invited the peninsula’s football clubs to be involved in the visit.
It’s the first time Port Adelaide has held its Australia Post AFL Community Camp on Yorke Peninsula.
2013 will be the 11th year the Power has engaged with residents via the Australia Post AFL Community Camp program, visiting regions across South Australia. Previous destinations are: Port Lincoln (2003), Murray Bridge (2004), Mount Gambier (2005), Barossa Valley (2006), Riverland (2007), Whyalla (2008), Southern Vales/Gawler (2009), Port Lincoln (2010), Clare Valley (2011) and Port Augusta/Port Pirie (2012).
Port Adelaide chief executive officer Keith Thomas said the club was pleased to be heavily involved in regional South Australia during its pre-season.
“Sport and football in particular means a lot to country communities and we’re excited to be able to share our game with the people of Yorke Peninsula and take the club into a regional area,” Mr Thomas said.
“We’ll be on the Peninsula for the Australia Post AFL Community Camp and a fortnight later we’ll be up in the Riverland playing a NAB Cup game at Renmark.
“It’s a fantastic opportunity to get out an about, meet our many members and supporters in regional areas and do something to support these really important communities.”
AFL national and international development general manager Andrew Dillon said more than 800 players from all 18 clubs again would be involved in the program, connecting with all States and Territories.
“The Australia Post AFL Community Camps are a highlight of the year for many fans, in particular those who don’t have the opportunity to see their football idols regularly during the season,” Mr Dillon said.
Australia Post general manager community relations Andrea Pearman said the camps are an important part of Australia Post’s commitment to give local communities, particularly in regional and rural areas, access to experiences that they don’t usually have.
“Taking the big league to regional and rural Australia and providing them with opportunities to meet their favourite AFL players and clubs is a great way to create interaction and participation within local communities,” Ms Pearman said.
Port Adelaide will announce further details of its Yorke Peninsula program as soon as possible.
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