Forest Rugby working with the community to make a difference!

Forest Rugby is dedicated to making a difference in our community. Our charity partners are carefully selected
with two main criteria in mind. We target charities that dedicate themselves to supporting the vulnerable and
helping to cause change in areas of social importance plus ensuring our funds can be dedicated to programs
directly operating in our local community. Whilst no doubt Rugby is a key focus of the Club, the Committee is
passionate about its role and responsibility to contribute more broadly to our community and society in general.

The Forest Rugby Charity Day has gone from strength to strength in recent years and it is something that ever
person associated with the Club should be immensely proud off. This year is no different and we are again setting
our sights high and looking forward to broad participation from everyone in the Forest Rugby community.

After raising $17K for headspace Brookvale youth mental health programs in 2016, and $27K for the Manly
Community Centre homelessness and domestic violence programs in 2017 (along with supporting disability
employment programs operated by Bushlink in our local community in both years), we are hoping to again raise the
bar for our nominated charities in 2018. In the words of the local member for Manly, Mr James Griffin BA MP, at a
recognition ceremony after last years event, the level of dedication and support shown by Forest Rugby Club is
unprecedented in our community and absolutely sets us apart from other sporting clubs in the district. Together,
and with the involvement of as many people as possible, we can continue to build our reputation in this area not
only for the benefit of our Club but for the deserving causes we assist each year.

This year we are delighted to be working with and assisting The White Knight Foundation (TWKF) and again
Bushlink as our ongoing secondary charity. This will be celebrated over two separate events this year. Firstly, we
will be conducting a 24 Hour Non-Stop relay at Melwood Oval across 8th – 9th June 2018, followed by our traditional
Charity Day game against University of NSW at home on 28th July 2018.

TWKF works to provide much needed meaningful support for young victims of youth violence through their journey
to recovery. Through targeted education programs, it also works to draw attention to the prevalence and absolute
stupidity of unprovoked youth violence. The Foundation was established in August 2013 from the result of an
unprovoked attack on Liam Knight, where a 2.8m long steel rod was thrown, striking Liam, piercing through his
skull. The Forest Rugby Club has a very close and long standing relationship with the Knight Family who have
played with the Club and is very proud to nominate them as the primary benefactors of this years charity events.
We also feel strongly about education and the promotion of responsible drinking in our Community, particularly with
the younger community and are fully supportive of the programs operated by TWKF in this regard.

Bushlink, part of Northside Enterprise Inc, is dedicated to creating real and valued employment for people with
disability, through a network of working environmental project teams. They operate in conjunction with their clients,
advocates and partners under the “Spirit of Inclusion” to support people with disability, helping them to hold real
jobs and become empowered. Jobs with Bushlink develop self-respect, a high degree of pride and sense of
self-worth for their valued employees. Again, Forest Rugby is proud and privileged to partner with such an
amazing organisation and help to directly improve life outcomes for people with disability in our community.

A huge call out for long time Club supporter John Courtney, whose company JAC electrical has again stepped
up to the plate to be the main Charity Day gold sponsor with Michael Donaldson from AEI Insurance Broking
Group as Silver sponsor. Forest Rugby also acknowledges the amazing ongoing and generous support it receives
from major sponsor – Shields Gilman Real Estate who graciously donate the temporary use of its traditional
space on the front of the Forest first grade jersey for special the one-off jerseys to be worn by the team on the day.
A big thank you to Peter Gillman and Sally Shields Gillman for your support.

What can you do? Identifying the cause and gaining corporate support is half the job. We invite all supporters
and members of the local community to Melwood Oval on 8th – 9th June 2018 to be part of the Charity Relay (see
separate information sheet). 24 teams will continually run a rugby ball up and down Melwood Oval over 24 hours
and each try to raise $1,000 in sponsor ship. We are one Club! Numbers are unrestricted! We seek all minis,
junior boys and girls, seniors, coaches, managers, supporters, sponsors, friends and family to get involved.