The charity match was raising funds for disadvantaged Australians
The Pine Rivers Showground, in Lawnton, northern Brisbane, was alive with the glory of music and footy yesterday for the inaugural Queensland Reclink Australia Community Cup event as the musically talented Rocking Horses trounced the media minds of the Brisbane Lines in a charity game of Australian rules football.
When the dust settled, the game's final score read 8.9.57 Rocking Horses, 7.9.51 Brisbane Lines — but (and we're not just saying this as obvious Lines supporters) the real winner was the community, as local folks turned out in solid numbers to welcome the annual charity match to the northern half of the country.
The day's proceedings — largely broadcast live on 4ZZZ, for those who couldn't make the trip out — got under way with a staunch effort from the effortlessly charming players of Diddly Squat. The band made the most of an unfortunate situation — an equipment issue left them sans drummer, who cheered from the grandstand — and won over the early birds with aplomb as they strolled through a remarkable diversity of cover tunes, hitting everyone from Pink to Johnny Cash in the process and lubricating the audience nicely, especially given the earliness of their slot.
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They were followed by the warm strains of the Reclink Australia Transformers Choir, comprised of disadvantaged individuals brought together and lifted up through the power of music. Shout-out to their conductor, slaving away in the uncovered post-midday heat for upwards of half-an-hour solidly. On the other side of the match, the good times and live vibes kept flowing with help from Flangipanis and Scabz — both of whom pulled double duty contributing on-field players and after-game entertainment.
The grandstands filled steadily as first bounce approached; a surprisingly effective clown entertained us while we waited for the teams to warm up and get cracking. The venue was abuzz with the sounds and smells of nearby food stalls offering sausage sizzles, mini Dutch pancakes and other delights, while a merch table offered stylish event-themed threads including T-shirts and scarves, the latter of which looked mighty handsome on Whiskey, one of the many dogs getting about the event.
Canines weren't the only furry friends on-ground, however; the Brisbane Lions mascot, Roy The Lion, was even in attendance to help with proceedings.
For all its social goodwill, though, the Community Cup wasn't without physical casualties; Labor senator Anthony Chisholm walked away with a broken finger for his troubles, which he proudly took to social media after the event to congratulate all involved and set the stage for the game's inevitable return next year.
For more information about Reclink or the Community Cup, or to find out how to get involved next year, keep an eye on the organisation's website.
Take a peep through a gallery of images below from Community Cup photographer Campbell Manderson, or see more images at the Facebook event page.