PARLIAMENT House was the venue for the recent Friends of Rugby League meeting with the group joined by Shane Mattiske, Head of Strategy and Investment with the NRL.
The Friends of Rugby League event followed the annual City v Country Politicians Touch Game, which was played in the Brisbane Botanic Gardens.
This was the second year the charity game was played and it was the Country team captained by Steve Dickson, the Minister for National Parks, Recreation, Sport and Racing that again ran out victorious adding to their victory in the match last year.
The City team was led By Tim Mander, former NRL referee and now the Minister for Housing and Public Works.
Other notable participants were Robbie Katter, Member for Mt Isa and former North Queensland Cowboys player and Shane Knuth, Member for Dalrymple who notched up 92 games for the Redcliffe Dolphins in the early 1980s.
The Friends of Rugby League was launched in Queensland in August at Queensland Parliament House with the NRL supporting the concept as part of its commitment to working more closely with local members to use the profile and reach of rugby league to share important social and community messages across Queensland.
The members who played in the touch game all make a contribution which goes to a nominated charity. The game this year supported Hummingbird House which is looking to establish a childrens hospice in Brisbane.
A number of Hummingbird House supporters including cricket great Michael Kasprowicz and his wife Lindsay cheered on both teams.
Hummingbird House is an initiative of Queensland Kids which was established for the purpose of providing charitable services for the relief of sickness, suffering, distress, misfortune, disability or helplessness of people, and to work proactively to enhance the physical, emotional and spiritual well-being of people, in the communities of Queensland.
You can find more information about Queensland Kids and Hummingbird House on their website at http://www.hummingbirdhouse.org.au/ .
The game raised $1000 for the charity and this was presented to the Chairman of Queensland Kids, Mr John Hummlestad by Tim Mander.
The Queensland Rugby League were represented by Jamie OConnor and Darren Schooth.
