The charity ‘music industry versus media’ football match began in Melbourne in 1993, attracting over 10,000 people and raising over $100,000 for Reclink Australia each year. It began in Sydney in 2012.
The national dates are:
June 5: Hobart | North Hobart Oval
June 26: Melbourne | Elsternwick Park
August 7: Adelaide | Coopers Stadium, Norwood
August 14: Sydney | Henson Park, Marrickville
August 28: Perth | Bassendean Oval
September 25: Brisbane | Pine Rivers Show Ground
This year’s theme ‘Smells Like Team Spirit’ pays homage to Nirvana’s classic album Nevermind celebrating its 25th anniversary.
Last year’s events in Melbourne, Sydney, Perth and Adelaide raised more than $215,000. This year with the inclusion of Brisbane and Hobart, Reclink Australia aims to raise more than $250,000 to better enhance the lives of people experiencing disadvantage around Australia.
In the past 12 months Reclink Australia has provided more than 10,000 activities, across national networks, with over 100,000 opportunities offered in those activities. The organisation helps some of the community’s most vulnerable and isolated people: at risk youth, those experiencing mental illness, people with a disability, the homeless, people tackling alcohol and other drug issues and social and economic hardship.
Aside from family friendly fun, the matches provide Reclink Australia with the chance to raise national awareness and funds for its work
Reclink’s CEO John Ballis says: “For Reclink the Community Cup is a time when the media – particularly the community radio sector – and local musicians band together to help raise much needed funds to enable us to deliver sport, recreation and arts programs that make a huge difference to lives of the neediest in our community; programs that foster self-confidence, fight isolation, develop skills, and establish connections and lasting friendships.”
