Legends hit the speaker's circuit to raise funds for grass roots footy

Some of the biggest names in South Australian football will visit retirement villages throughout the state this month to raise crucial funds for grass roots footy.

Graham Cornes, Russell Ebert, Neil Kerley, John Platten, Ken Cunningham and John Halbert will visit 11 Lifestyle SA villages across Adelaide where thousands of retirees – and friends and family – have been invited to free talks by the legendary footballers.

The talks are part of the SANFL’s “Greatest Footy Club Raffle of All Time” which has been running throughout the 2013 footy season to raise much-needed funds for local football and community clubs.

Guests will be encouraged to buy raffle tickets and join the state-wide challenge to raise $1.5 million for metropolitan and regional football communities.

Lifestyle SA is the major partner of the SANFL initiative having generously donated the grand prize – a brand new fully furnished house and land package at Seaford Meadows valued at $565,000.

Lifestyle SA General Manager Stephen Norris says the company – which is a subsidiary of the Pickard Norris Joint Venture – is pleased to do its bit for local footy, with residents, friends and families across its village network excited to meet their SANFL heroes of yesteryear.

“Many of our Lifestyle Village residents across the state enjoy a strong affection for local footy having grown up during the SANFL’s glory days of the 1960s, ‘70s and ‘80s,” he said.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for our residents and their friends and family to hear some classic old stories from some of South Australia’s biggest football legends, while also raising critical funds for the SANFL and small football and community clubs around the state.”

Like the SANFL, Lifestyle SA is a proud South Australian organisation that over the past decade has led the way in developing contemporary, resort-style villages for Baby Boomer retirees.

Raffle tickets will be available to purchase at each talk and are also available from the SANFL website (www.sanfl.com.au) for $10, with $5 of every ticket going directly to a nominated SANFL or community club. The remaining $5 will be put back into SANFL programs that directly benefit talent and game development in South Australia.

Other raffle prizes include a Luxury Ford Territory, a holiday to Phuket, $10,000 cash and a $5,000 voucher for The Good Guys.

The raffle closes on September 20 with the grand prize winner to be announced at the SANFL Grand Final on October 6.

The free footy legend talks have been scheduled as follows:

- Monday 5 August: The Parks Lifestyle Village at Pasadena (John Halbert from 10am-12noon) and The Reserve Lifestyle Village at Woodcroft (Russell Ebert from 2.30pm-4.00pm).

- Tuesday 6 August: The Sands Lifestyle Village at Seaford (Ken Cunningham from 10am-12noon).

- Wednesday 7 August: The Gardens Lifestyle Village at Parafield Gardens (Russell Ebert from 10am-12noon) and the Golden Grove Lifestyle Village (Ken Cunningham from 2.30pm-4.00pm).

- Thursday 8 August: The Ferns Lifestyle Village at Salisbury East (Graham Cornes from 10am-12noon) and Heysen Court Lifestyle Village at Hope Valley (John Halbert from 2.30pm-4.00pm).

- Friday 9 August: The Elms Lifestyle Village at Walkley Heights (John Platten from 10am-12noon).

- Monday 12 August: The Mount Barker Lifestyle Village (Neil Kerley from 10am-12noon) and Forest Place Lifestyle Village at Happy Valley (Neil Kerley from 2.30pm-4.00pm).

- Tuesday 13 August: The Vines Lifestyle Village at Evanston Park (Graham Cornes from 10am-12noon).

ISSUED BY HUGHES PUBLIC RELATIONS:
Kieran Hall on 8412 4100 or kieran@hughespr.com.au