Owls Rugby (ACT) today presented a $40,000 cheque to Her Royal Highness, Princess Angelika Tuku’aho, Tongan High Commissioner, following the club’s fundraising efforts earlier this year.
The funds have been raised for the people of Kanokupolu in Tonga, whose village was destroyed by the Tsunami on 16 January.
$40,000 was raised through a combination of online donations, raffles, T-shirts sales, takings from the Owls home game against Canberra Royals on 9 July, auctions and a donation from the club.
Houses, farmland, buildings and the Village Hall, which was the centre of community life, were destroyed. Once a new location for the village is formalised and re-construction commences, the $40,000 raised by the Owls will contribute to the rebuilding of the Village Hall.
“This was not only a great cause, but it was also a fantastic community effort that brought amazing energy to the club” said Owls Secretary John Fely.
“The amount raised could not have occurred without our fantastic sponsors, club supporters and the local community in general. The feeling of excitement and warmth at our home game on 9 July was incredible and will be remembered by many for a long time.”
The Tongan community is very grateful for Owls Rugby’s efforts, “… back in February we came to the club to see if it could donate some basics like sanitiser, etc., to send back to Kanokupolu… we just couldn’t imagine that we would be given $40,000” said Api Mafi, wife of Tongan 1995 World Cup player and ANU 1992 Premiership legend, Falamani Mafi.
In more club news, four Owls women have been selected in their countries’ squads for the Women’s Rugby World Cup.
Pesi Palu (centre) and Tania Naden (hooker) have been selected for the Walleroos, while Iris Verebalavu (prop) and Talei Wilson (centre/wing) have gained selection to the Fiji Squad.
Owls Rugby Club is affiliated with the Australian National University (ANU) and the University of Canberra (UC) and plays in the ACT Rugby Competitions across all grades. The club has eight senior teams: six men’s and two women’s. A number of the Owls’ men and women also play for the ACT Brumbies.
