Community

The Club prides its self on what it gives back to not only to the community, but also to the football fraternity. We aim to sponsor our local junior teams as well as providing a source of coaches. We have also had, over the years, representatives on the WAAFL executive, which sets the policy for the league. We have also produced recruits for the Fremantle Dockers, West Perth, East Perth, State and All Australian Amateurs teams.

Research has shown that Amateur football clubs generate a range of positive effects for local communities, including heightened levels of physical and mental wellbeing, social interaction and economic activity. Key findings are:

1. Football clubs provide an environment where people are more socially connected at every age group compared to other Western Australians.
2. Football clubs are 3 times more useful for developing social networks than work, education or other community group networks.
3. Football clubs provide club members greater social support than through their other social networks.
4. Football clubs help people develop skills in public speaking, problem solving, decision making, conflict resolution, and dealing with people from diverse backgrounds.
5. Football clubs provide individuals, particularly those aged 15 to 24, with significantly increased chances of securing
   employment via the social networks provided by the club.
6. A football club’s reach is significant and extends beyond its players, coaches, administrators and volunteers; for every
   1 player, football clubs reach 10 people in their community, generating increased civic pride.
7. Football clubs are considered the hub of a community
8. Football clubs are large consumers within their own communities, supporting local businesses such as bakeries, cafes, hotels, butchers, restaurants and local trades people.

With limited resources and finances we have endeavoured to give back to the community in more than just football terms. Examples of such are as follows:

• Our annual Pink Ladies Day Fundraiser for Breast Cancer raised $2,078 in 2016
• The Club also assist its members by writing off membership fees for those who are suffering financial hardship and have in the past financially contributed to members family funeral cost and paid for a retired volunteer airfares so he could visit is daughter in Melbourne
• Donated and /or lent equipment to various non-profit groups to assist with their fund raising
• The Club acquire a set of blue jumpers and dedicates one game annually to promote male depression awareness which is in support of our endeavours to openly address male depression and youth suicide by offering free literature and a support base. We also use the occasion to raise funds for Beyondblue
• Continued our sponsorship and provision of equipment to the Lao Elephants AFL club who are promoting Aussie Rules in Laos and across Asia
• Hosted two players from the Lao Elephants Football Club who flew to Perth for a week in 2015. The club billeted them for the week and assisted with other expenses. We played them in our 5th senior team under lights at the Showgrounds
• Supported charity groups such as the Good Samaritans via our Op Shop function
• Conducted a Ladies night game with the Joondalup Women’s Football Team who now hold an annual Pink Lace game with East Fremantle to coincide with our annual Breast Cancer Fund raising day
• Host a number of Little League games for Auskickers from the Wanneroo and Neerabup Juniors. We also sponsored the Neerabup Junior Football Club.
• Achieved AFL Bronze club accreditation and are on the cusp on receiving Gold accreditation
• Fundraising for Sarcoma Awareness
• Donated to the Victorian Black Saturday Bushfire appeal

The Clubs main focus is it’s on field performance, player welfare/enjoyment and building its standing and support within the community. With this formula we continue to grow as a family friendly club and as a sense of place for the community.