logo
Peel Thunder raises funds and food for Foodbank Peel

Peel Thunder raises funds and food for Foodbank Peel

Perth Now06-05-2025
Footy fans are being called upon to tackle food insecurity in the Peel region by supporting the 2025 Peel Thunder Charity Game Day on May 10.
The day raises funds and food donations for Foodbank Peel and Alcoa has committed for the second year to match fan donations dollar for dollar, doubling the community's impact and providing essential groceries to individuals and families struggling with the rising cost of living.
The 2024 Foodbank Hunger Report revealed that more than half of food-insecure households in Australia are forced to skip meals or endure entire days without food.
Your local paper, whenever you want it. Jodie Giraudo, Paul Lekias and Kate O'Hara with donations for Foodbank. Credit: Supplied
In the Peel region, Foodbank has recorded a 10 per cent increase in demand over the past year, highlighting the urgent need for community support.
Peel Thunder CEO Paul Lekias called on all club supporters to get behind the drive during the Round 6 game against West Perth at Lane Group Stadium in Mandurah.
'The Peel Thunder Football Club is extremely proud of its association with Foodbank WA and we are thrilled to once again showcase the importance of their support,' he said.
'At a time when so many people are facing the increased cost-of-living pressure, we are calling on the whole Peel region to get behind this initiative in any small way they can to help make a difference.
'We hope to see as many people as possible on May 10 enjoy a great day at Lane Group Stadium.'
Alcoa's Pinjarra operations manager Jodie Giraudo said last year the company matched fan donations for a combined total of $28,000, which equated to more than 55,800 meals.
'We would love to beat that target this year to provide more food and groceries to those who struggle to afford them,' she said.
Foodbank WA CEO Kate O'Hara said Foodbank was grateful for their long-standing relationship with Peel Thunder and Alcoa.
'This charity game is a critical source of funds, enabling us to provide food relief in a way that is dignified and easily accessible,' she said.
'In the last financial year we provided 928,836 meals in the Peel region. We can, and must, do better for our community.'
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Inspiring acts why WAFL matters more than ever
Inspiring acts why WAFL matters more than ever

Perth Now

time7 days ago

  • Perth Now

Inspiring acts why WAFL matters more than ever

Yes the AFL is the big show. The big game in town. It's polished and professional. But sometimes, the game we love can be a little bit out of reach — and that's where the WAFL comes in. There's a beautiful simplicity about the local league and it can remind you why you fell in love with footy in the first place. It's because you can bring the kids, spread out a rug, kick a footy at half-time, and let the afternoon roll by like 'the old days'. You can rock in right before bouncedown … no queues here and it costs only $20 or less (it's free at Good Grocer Park in East Fremantle). And guess what, if you get down near the fence you can actually hear the crunch of the tackles if that's what really gets your blood pumping. And during the breaks, you can see the veins in the coach's neck bulge as he's giving the forwards a spray. The best part? You can wander out on to the ground and have a kick with your kids. This isn't second-rate footy. It's football in its purest form. And the WAFL is played just how the founding fathers had dreamt it would be. Peel Thunder's Liam Reidy and Claremont's Oliver Eastland. Credit: Jackson Flindell / The West Australian There's no flooding. Less structure, with more one-on-one contests. Players going head-to-head all day long. It's a complete mano-a-mano contest. No ganging up on your opposition … it's like Jakovich v Carey, or Glass v Pavlich. The players are just like you and me, to some degree. They have real jobs — day jobs — or they're chasing a dream, many just playing for the love the game and a bit of extra coin. You can even chat to them in the club bar or in the carpark afterwards. And this isn't just about some Barra nostalgia trip. The standard of WAFL footy is bloody good and it's real and raw. AFL is the big time, and we love it. But WAFL, that's the heart and soul. So this weekend, grab a scarf, bring the kids. Eat a pie, have a beer and cheer on the Tigers, the Lions or my Demons from the fence. And remember what footy used to feel like … and what it can still be. It's about community — and nowhere was that clearer than on the weekend at Revo Fitness Stadium. On what was arguably the coldest and wettest day of the footy season, Claremont drew a crowd — not just to see dual Brownlow medallist Nat Fyfe make his WAFL return but for a Big Freeze fundraiser for Fight MND, held in honour of local dad Jordan Early. Nat Fyfe playing for Peel Thunder. Credit: Jackson Flindell / The West Australian And the celebrity sliders went all-in. West Coast AFLW coach Daisy Pearce — a seasoned slider — joined Eagles legend John Worsfold. Woosha dressed as tennis star Alicia Molik and Molik kitted out as Eagles wonderkid Harley Reid — complete with mouthguard and headband. And three of the western suburbs' most prominent headmasters also braved the icy waters. Alec O'Connell (Scotch College), who took the plunge and challenged others to match his commitment. Dean Dell'Oro (Hale School), who was backing Hale Old Boy Jordan 100 per cent, and Alan Jones (Christ Church Grammar) who made sure the old school rivalries carried on in icy style, promising a plunge that would go down in schoolboy folklore. It was fun, it was powerful and it sure made a splash. Jordan Early and Jo Moullin. Credit: Ross Swanborough / The West Australian Jordan Early, just 42, was diagnosed with MND earlier this year. A father of three, his world changed overnight, but so did his community — rallying around him, proving that even on the coldest day, a bit of warmth and hope goes a long way. His partner Jo Moullin summed it up: 'Hope is so important, and it shouldn't be taken away so abruptly.' She's right you know, this is a beast of a disease, and with MND you don't have the luxury of time. Channel 7 had special coverage of the event and many a tear was shed amongst the crew who worked on this Big Freeze. The theme was to rally together and stand beside those battling the Beast. But Saturday wasn't just about fundraising. It was about reminding a family — and all of us really — that footy is more than wins and losses. It's about people showing up for each other. That's WAFL. And that's why WAFL matters. Claremont, right here in the western suburbs, are chasing another flag on the field. But off the field, they've already won the most important game of all — the one that brings people together. So, this weekend, do yourself a favour. Pop down to the local oval. Bring a scarf. Bring your voice. And bring your love of the game. Because WAFL still matters. And in many ways, it matters more than ever.

‘I know there's concern' says Alcoa Australia president Elsabe Muller as US miner fights for South West mine
‘I know there's concern' says Alcoa Australia president Elsabe Muller as US miner fights for South West mine

West Australian

time24-07-2025

  • West Australian

‘I know there's concern' says Alcoa Australia president Elsabe Muller as US miner fights for South West mine

Alcoa's new local chief Elsabe Muller insists the US bauxite giant is putting 'all effort in' to win approvals to keep mining the State's Jarrah Forest as the plans undergo lengthy public scrutiny. The Pittsburgh-headquartered miner and alumina refiner is fighting to secure two environmental ticks from the State Government to expand its bauxite mine in the South West, and to increase production capacity at the Pinjarra Alumina Refinery. Asked whether she was confident Alcoa would get the green light for its expansion plans, Ms Muller told a WA Mining Club event the miner was 'putting all effort in to make sure that we're getting the support to get approval.' Alcoa's existing approvals were locked in under a State agreement in 1961 and therefore have not gone through WA's current environmental assessment regime to make sure they meet modern standards . 'For any mining company, you tend to mine where the deposit can be economically extracted. Now, in our case in WA, you find it in the Jarrah Forest,' operations president Ms Muller said on Thursday. She referenced research from the Global Aluminium Council that claimed demand for the metal would increase between 30 per cent and 40 per cent by 2030. 'It will double by 2050 because you do need it to decarbonise. There's no substitute,' she said. 'We obviously need to enter new mining areas so that our refineries can keep operating for decades to come.' WA's Environmental Protection Authority launched a 12-week public comment period for the plans at the end of May, a move Alcoa said earlier this month would mean it was unlikely a Ministerial decision would be made by early 2026, as had been anticipated. The miner has also faced substantial community concern since it was served an official notice by the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation in 2023, after inspectors found Alcoa had built a pipeline and funnelled toxic PFAS-contaminated waste over Samson Brook dam despite a works application still being 'under assessment'. Asked how it would address these concerns during the public feedback period, Ms Muller said on Thursday that Alcoa had 'never impacted drinking water' and had implemented a reservoir protection zone 'to absolutely make sure we will not'. 'I know that there's concern. We've never impacted drinking water.'

Basil Zempilas: Hakea report shows Labor is fixated on votes over basic needs
Basil Zempilas: Hakea report shows Labor is fixated on votes over basic needs

West Australian

time23-07-2025

  • West Australian

Basil Zempilas: Hakea report shows Labor is fixated on votes over basic needs

1. It's messy and expensive — but also necessary. Three commissioners are now in place to run the Nedlands council for the next nine months. Where though are John Carey's inspectorate of local government and local government monitors? You remember, announced three years ago with much fanfare, we were told they would investigate and oversee complaints and assist in resolving ongoing issues. Still we wait for their arrival, and Nedlands counts the cost. 2. A scathing report which described conditions within Hakea prison as 'entirely unacceptable' is the latest evidence of a Government fixated on pet projects such as the racetrack at Burswood, instead of the basics. As 7NEWS veteran Geof Parry put it so well, 'there's very few votes in prisons or prisoners — and the Government knows it, but the public should pay more attention. Every time there's a breakout or prison riot, the bill to taxpayers can run into the millions.' 3. Not everything has to be about dollars or votes. In WA we expect a certain standard, even for those who are behind bars. Prisoners being kept in inhumane conditions increases the risk to prison guards and decreases the chances of any meaningful rehabilitation. If there's no chance of prisoners coming out any better than they went in, we've lost our way. 4. Vale Ozzy Osbourne. I never really got into him, Black Sabbath or the family reality show, but the other day I saw a clip of him meeting his lifetime idol Sir Paul McCarthy. The genuine warmth and respect he showed for the legendary Beatle was enough to convince me Ozzy was all right. 5. I was at the West Coast Fever's semi-final demolition of the Sydney Swifts on Sunday — a display I'd rank as one of the most dominant team performances I've seen. The Fever's on-court confidence has carried them to 13 consecutive wins and the grand final. One to go. 6. The other delight of attending with my daughter and niece, was seeing first-hand the phenomenal match day atmosphere and sheer inspiration the Fever players provide the stadium full of impressionable young athletes. I'm not sure any club in WA does it better. What wonderful role models they are. 7. I visited our State's largest food relief provider, Foodbank, this week. It was a reminder of how many people in WA are doing it tough. Each year Foodbank provides more than 9 million meals to West Aussies in need. 8. Can the Dockers win the flag? They can if they sneak into the top four. 9. One of the most remarkable people I have ever met turns 90 tomorrow. Happy birthday Don Cruden, a sparkling gentleman with an insatiable appetite for knowledge, who served his country for 21 years in the 7RAR 'Porky Pig' battalion of the Australian Army. 10. The WA Liberals listening tour is in Harvey on Friday. I'll be with Michelle Boylan MLC at the Curious Cockatoo Café at 9am. Great name. Come and say hi.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store