A top Toowoomba rugby club has raised thousands for a leading women’s organisation, while also working to educate its players on respect for women. Check out the gallery of pics here:
Bears Rugby Union president Bruce McConnel said while counting was continuing, he believed the event would donate upwards of $5000 towards Protea Place.
“With our side’s getting some wins and seeing the MRP (Modified Rugby Program) kids playing a game on Toowoomba’s premium sports ground (Clive Berghofer Stadium), it’s been fantastic,” he said.
“The weather has been great, the rugby has been great and we’re all here for a great cause.”
Along with fundraising, the partnership with Protea Place also involved the club working to educate and inform its male players.
McConnell said that he had already overheard and observed a change in the way the players had been interacting with one another, indicating they were committed to making an inclusion change.
“Our sponsors are behind it, our boys are absolutely behind it and I know as a club we are behind it and want to make a difference,” he said.
“We’ve had over 60 girls play for us already this year and the whole team is here today which is fantastic.
“They were given the option of playing a curtain raiser, but they all collectively decided that they’d much rather hang out in the Hutchies tent for the day and have some drinks; which would’ve been my choice too.”
Check out the gallery of photos below:
Enjoying the day are (from left) Belle Townsend, Abbey North, Brooke Walker and Jessalyn Willis at the Toowoomba Bears Rugby Ladies Day at Toowoomba Sports Ground, Saturday, July 15, 2023. Picture: Kevin Farmer
Having a great time are (from left) Taylah Newman, Renee Clark, Christine Walker and Shari McElhinney at the Toowoomba Bears Rugby Ladies Day at Toowoomba Sports Ground, Saturday, July 15, 2023. Picture: Kevin Farmer
At the Toowoomba Bears Rugby Ladies Day are (from left) Raeissa Strong, Ashleigh Griffiths and Grace Burnett at Toowoomba Sports Ground, Saturday, July 15, 2023. Picture: Kevin Farmer
Lily Lloyd-Jones (left) and Abbey Granzien at the Toowoomba Bears Rugby Ladies Day at Toowoomba Sports Ground, Saturday, July 15, 2023. Picture: Kevin Farmer
At the Toowoomba Bears Rugby Ladies Day are (from left) Emily Ranger, Ainsley Haimes, Jade Hubbard, Jasmine Mulheran and Hannah Green at Toowoomba Sports Ground, Saturday, July 15, 2023. Picture: Kevin Farmer
At the Toowoomba Bears Rugby Ladies Day are (from left) Annabelle Burgess, Jessie Maunder, Emily Jones and Emma Chesterfield at Toowoomba Sports Ground, Saturday, July 15, 2023. Picture: Kevin Farmer
At the Toowoomba Bears Rugby Ladies Day are (from left) Tabitha Lloyd-Jones, Peta Mulheran, Kathryn Doyle, Jasmine Mulheran and Anne Day at Toowoomba Sports Ground, Saturday, July 15, 2023. Picture: Kevin Farmer
At Toowoomba Bears Rugby Ladies Day are (from left) Ella Johnston, Katie Bunker and Katelyn Collie at Toowoomba Sports Ground, Saturday, July 15, 2023. Picture: Kevin Farmer
At the Toowoomba Bears Rugby Ladies Day are (from left) Linda Mantova, Nicole Mann, Alison De Wilde, Nicki Lewis, Jo Capp and Rachael Welsh at Toowoomba Sports Ground, Saturday, July 15, 2023. Picture: Kevin Farmer
At the Toowoomba Bears Rugby Ladies Day are (from left) Kelly Smith, Jacinta Furlanis, Meg Schostakowski and Alex Ivory at Toowoomba Sports Ground, Saturday, July 15, 2023. Picture: Kevin Farmer
At the Toowoomba Bears Rugby Ladies Day are (from left) Emily Ranger, Ainsley Haimes, Jade Hubbard, Jasmine Mulheran and Hannah Green at Toowoomba Sports Ground, Saturday, July 15, 2023. Picture: Kevin Farmer
At the Toowoomba Bears Rugby Ladies Day are (from left) Steph Zimmermann, Jordie Hicks and Maddy Eyre at Toowoomba Sports Ground, Saturday, July 15, 2023. Picture: Kevin Farmer
At the Toowoomba Bears Rugby Ladies Day are (from left) Gabbie Pike, Lily Black and Hattie Lloyd-Jones at Toowoomba Sports Ground, Saturday, July 15, 2023. Picture: Kevin Farmer
At the Toowoomba Bears Rugby Ladies Day are (from left) Bec Warner, Jackie Sargood and Karen Makkai at Toowoomba Sports Ground, Saturday, July 15, 2023. Picture: Kevin Farmer
Lily Lloyd-Jones (left) and Abbey Granzien at the Toowoomba Bears Rugby Ladies Day at Toowoomba Sports Ground, Saturday, July 15, 2023. Picture: Kevin Farmer
At the Toowoomba Bears Rugby Ladies Day are (from left) Emily Wheeler, Brooke Wheeler and Gemma Telfer at Toowoomba Sports Ground, Saturday, July 15, 2023. Picture: Kevin Farmer
At the Toowoomba Bears Rugby Ladies Day are (from left) Bec Warner, Jackie Sargood and Karen Makkai at Toowoomba Sports Ground, Saturday, July 15, 2023. Picture: Kevin Farmer
At the Toowoomba Bears Rugby Ladies Day are (from left) Emma Parker, Georgie Erbacher, Cassidy Wilson and Sarah Gleeson at Toowoomba Sports Ground, Saturday, July 15, 2023. Picture: Kevin Farmer
Chloe Mills (left) and Brooke Fitzgerald at Toowoomba Bears Rugby Ladies Day at Toowoomba Sports Ground, Saturday, July 15, 2023. Picture: Kevin Farmer
