Eels heading to Queensland to aid in flood relief
The Pirtek Parramatta Eels have united with fellow western Sydney clubs Penrith Panthers, the Bulldogs and Wests Tigers to aid the relief effort for the Queensland floods.
Players from the Parramatta Eels will fly into flood-ravaged south-east Queensland next Tuesday for two days to assist with the clean-up for one of the worst natural disasters Queensland has experienced.
The Pirtek Parramatta Eels, including Chris Walker, Carl Webb, Nathan Hindmarsh, Daniel Mortimer, Luke Burt and coach Stephen Kearney will be based in Ipswich and mainly help out in the badly damaged town of Goodna.
The Penrith Panthers will be taking 10 players including Petero Civoniceva, Michael Jennings, Lachlan Coote, Travis Burns and their coach Matthew Elliott to Karalee, Ipswich.
The Bulldogs are determining where they can provide the same type of benefit but in a different region. They hope to have it confirmed in the coming days. The Wests Tigers are also confirming details.
Approximately 20 Eels will travel to Goodna, spending their time cleaning up debris and mud from streets and property, mingling with the community and helping with the clean-up for the local Junior Rugby League Clubs.
The Eels will fly into Brisbane Airport on Tuesday morning before being bussed out to Ipswich by Ipswich Council.
Once there the players will be working hands-on with the disaster relief crews and locals to clean up the streets before going to a dinner arranged by Ipswich Council.
Later that evening the players will visit evacuation centres nearby to mingle with the locals, many of whom have lost their homes.
On Wednesday the team will head to local Rugby League Clubs in the area to help clean up facilities and assist however they can.
Parramatta Eels Chairman Roy Spagnolo says the Club is keen to do whatever it can to help the people of Queensland through the floods and clean-up.
"I'm really proud of this Club and the way everyone has pulled together to get the boys up to Ipswich to help in whatever way they can," he says.
"Rugby League always unites in times of trouble and the Parramatta Club are keen to help, especially given some of our players' families were directly impacted by the floods."
