You won’t want to miss the Reds Foundation’s first lunch of the season.

Peter Hille plans to challenge legendary cricket writer Gideon Haigh's views about recent Aussie test match scandals and host a discussion with panellists and sports journalists Richard Hinds (ABC, The Age etc) and Megan Husthwaite (SEN sports reporter). 

Haigh, author and writer for The Australian and The Times, has just written his 35^th book – which unusually is not about cricket -  and appeared on this week’s ABC documentary Caught Out. He should have plenty to say.

We know you all have an opinion on this topic, so don’t miss your chance to hear from those who have access to the inner sanctum. Get your questions ready for 21 April and book now.

Mr Hille advises people should also BYO sandpaper.

Keep an eye out for some other big name guests at upcoming pre-game lunches.

As part of an action-packed weekend at Brunswick Street, Brisbane Lions and Fitzroy champions of yesteryear will feature in an ALF 9s tournament this Sunday 8 April and you’re all invited.

Brownlow medallists and triple premiership midfielders Simon Black and Jason Akermanis, along with teammates Chris Johnson and Martin Pike have been named. AFLW champion Kaitlyn Ashmore heads up a star-studded line up, which will also include other Fitzroy stalwarts like Darren ‘Doc’ Wheildon.

Do not miss the Brunswick Street Bash this Sunday.  

And for our current players, it could be a big opportunity to show off their skills when Gemma Minuz, Erin Gogerly, Jess Hayes, Max Ellis, Nathan Ligris and Tom Cheshire also take the field.

Games start at 12pm.

Kerry’s famous BBQ will be running for the day and we’ll be hosting a tent for membership sign ups, merchandise sales and more to ensure the Fitzroy colours are well represented.

Come on down and join in the fun. Keep watching Fitzroy and the Lions’ social media for more details of who will be playing on the day.

A post-game ‘recovery’ session will be held at the Brisbane Lions’ official supporters venue in Melbourne, and home of our sponsor, the Royal Derby Hotel (446 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy).
 
More details here: http://www.lions.com.au/news/2018-04-01/brunswick-street-bash

The wonderful staff at St Vincent’s Hospital have saved the life of our dear friend and passionate Fitzroy man, King George III (aka Stephen Fenton) three times! He tells us why he’s taking on their fun run on 15 April.

The Religious Sisters of Charity that have worked in their Foundress Mary Aikenhead’s Ministries for 180 years since their Sydney arrival in 1838 have had no finer contribution to our Australian way of life than to the two mighty Public Hospitals both bearing the name St Vincent’s in Melbourne and Sydney. World Class but with the Charism of the RSC order to share - nay “impelled by the love of Christ to give to the poor- for love- what the rich can buy for money.”

St Vincent was given what marketing gurus now call ‘branding rights’ because his life story was that of help to the poor, the ill-treated, the hungry, the lame and the blind including at least forty thousand slaves amongst whom were many French and English children of his time (late 16th to mid 17th centuries). He himself had known slavery as a young man having been captured, on return to France from his studies in Spain, by pirates and sold in a Tunisian slave market.

We are told in the book of Saints that “Vincent wanted to help them all and he set about it in a very sensible way. He knew that the rich people he met were not really as selfish as they seemed. They just had not thought about the way they were treating the poor. Many of them were not as happy as they seemed either. The Court life, which seemed so cheerful and splendid, was often very dull and always very empty. So Vincent went to them and pleaded the cause of the poor and the outcast and especially of the children and the slaves. No one in France’s history had thought of doing this before in the way that Vincent did it. He asked the rich and the well born for money and – what was more difficult – service. He got both. He got enough money to build hospitals, ransom slaves, train acolytes who would go into the countryside first in France but then abroad” to all points of the compass.

There is a little walk happening on 15 April 2018. Having had my life saved three times at St Vincent’s I will humbly walk to honour and thank, amongst many, the magnificent Cardiologists like Professor Patricia Fox, A/ Professor Andrew Macisacc, Anna Greta, Alexander Rosalion the myriad of health professionals from anaesthetists, physiotherapists ,dieticians, psychologists , sleep and apnoea specialists, nurses who take the bloods apply the oxygen masks deliver the lifesaving medications, the catering and cleaning staff with their ever present cheerful demeanour and encouragement to get well and the administration staff existing in the ether making sure that all the boxes are ticked to make that happen, if it can, as soon as is properly possible.

Many of our own ACU women players will train for their degrees in the medical, health support, nursing, business and commerce and administration fields then happily march up Victoria Parade to join the teams of their calling at St Vincent’s. We are currently 7th on the ‘Fitzroy community’ ladder for donations towards the walk. The question is can we go higher? Donate here  https://events.stvfoundation.org.au/fundraisers/fitzroyfootballclub/fun-run-walk to our walkers or anonymously because your heart or mind compels you to do so.

By George! 111 (pictured in his favourite position behind the goals at Brunswick Street)