By CASEY NEILL
GREATER Dandenong businesses raised more than $5000 to bring joy to sick kids and their families.
Greater Dandenong Chamber of Commerce held its annual Grand Final Charity Luncheon at Sandhurst Club in Skye last Wednesday (24 September).
Raffles, silent auctions and live auctions – including a $1000 bid for nothing but a tax deduction – supported the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Make-A-Wish’s Lawrie Leeman said the foundation started in America when a sick young boy dreamed of spending a day as an Arizona state trooper.
“They gave him everything they could think of – bar the gun,” he said.
“When he passed away he was buried with full police honours.”
The charity’s Australian branch was established 24 years ago, to support children and their families “who’ve been to hell and back”.
Mr Leeman said the most common wish was to meet someone – like a sports star.
Kids also wish to visit somewhere – the Gold Coast among the most popular destinations, have something like a puppy or a tree house, or be someone for a day.
He showed a video of young cancer survivor Samuel realising his dream of becoming a Qantas pilot.
“It cheered him up just knowing there was a wish,” his mum said.
Samuel received a pilot’s jacket and cap at Brisbane airport, greeted passengers and ‘flew’ them to a tropical location in the flight simulator.
Guest speaker David Rhys-Jones didn’t pull any punches during his VFL/AFL career – and was in similar form during his presentation.
He’d made the most tribunal appearances of any player when he retired, with 42 – 25 to answer charges and 17 times as the victim.
It was Essendon that copped Rhys-Jones’ wrath last week over its ongoing supplements scandal.
“These players, they were like pin cushions,” he said.
“It’s a bad message to send to kids: ‘sticking a needle in you is going to make you a better footballer’.
“James Hird shouldn’t coach. James Hird shouldn’t be allowed near an AFL ground again.”
Rhys-Jones played 182 games for Carlton and Sydney/South Melbourne, and won the Norm Smith Medal as the best on ground in Carlton’s 1987 Grand Final victory.
But his place in the match almost wasn’t to be.
He faced the Western Australian sitting of the tribunal following a clash with West Coast Eagle Chris Lewis.
“I said I didn’t hit him. Lewis said I didn’t hit him,” he said.
“The bloody umpire came in and told the truth.
“I was staggered when they found me guilty.”
Adjudicator Brian Sierakowski told Rhys-Jones that suspensions didn’t seem to be working, and suggested a $5000 fine instead of a three-match ban.
‘WA tribunal disgrace’ was splashed across the front page of the Herald Sun upon his return to Melbourne, along with speculation “some rich Carlton supporter” would pay the fine.
“I thought that, too,” he said.
Had he been rubbed out for three matches he would only have played one game in eight weeks and wouldn’t have been eligible to play finals.
Rhys-Jones said he was told he’d earn the fine back tenfold if he kept his nose clean.
At post-Grand Final celebrations he turned out the lining of his jacket pockets and waited for club president John Elliot to approach him.
After accepting his praise, he said he was a little short of cash.
“Kid, money couldn’t buy this sort of happiness,” Mr Elliot said.
