1Football Club

Football club, 1 2 pharmacists & hundreds of opportunities for Indigenous kids Brisbane-based pharmacist Cathie It was a pivotal moment on many levels Epic Good and the HIP Reid hasn’t always been an AFL fan. As for Cathie as she shared the time with a child she admits she supported the another strong female leader Lois Following up on Lois’s initial request Kangaroos because her best friend did, Peeler, the Executive Director of Worawa for assistance with the Eaglehawks and if she wore her scarf to Waverley Aboriginal Girls College in Healesville. led to the discovery Hawthorn had Park she’d get free chocolate. ‘I was Lois – one of original Sapphires the a substantial, but unfunded, desire more passionate about the chocolate award-winning film is based on – was to upgrade their existing indigenous than the game,’ she confesses. also attending the program for the program. After months of consultation Alliance of Girls Schools. Together the between the couple and the club, Cathie But when the 2011 Telstra Business women formed a bond, and over time and Stuart are now the main corporate Woman of the Year went to Lockhart acts they performed in partnership donation partner of the Hawthorn River in 2014 with a Bond University would eventually lead to what is the Indigenous Program via their Epic Good Leadership program, she saw current and future Hawthorn Indigenous Foundation. how important football was in the Program (HIP). community, and how sport can act as Epic Good’s support has assisted a mechanism or catalyst for change Cathie explains the Mayor of Lockhart development of the Hawthorn regardless of cultural background. River is a huge fan of Cyril Rioli, and Indigenous Program with the aim ‘Sport engages all boys and the passion after the visit the group wanted to of further supporting Australia’s at Lockhart River with those kids is the give him a guernsey signed by the star Indigenous communities through same as the passion our kids have,’ she player. Cathie and Stuart - both donors mentorship, lifestyle and participation said relating the similarities of local kids to the Hawks Foundation - coordinated programs, while also providing financial with her own son Sam, ‘and I knew that the gift. Soon after Lois asked Cathie support and employment opportunities once you form a connection through one for an introduction to Hawthorn with through the vehicle of Australian Rules mechanism, it allows you to build other the goal of forming a connection with Football. connections.’ What Cathie knew was the local Healesville team, the Eastern that sport was the connector to good Eaglehawks. The Club aims to achieve this health. outcome by: Cathie had long since thrown away the • Employing a new Indigenous Health is Cathie’s business and her Kangaroo scarf to join Sam and Stuart Programs Officer – initially one day passion – she is co-owner of Epic in the most fashionable she could find per week at Waverley Park; Pharmacy with her husband Stuart Giles brown and gold. For his part Stuart had • Employing a new Indigenous Officer – and the visit to Lockhart River gave long ago shattered his Essendon loving – AFL Trainee shared resource with her the opportunity to see first hand parents by declaring at the age of five AFL Victoria; the disparities in health for Indigenous in the midst of Hawthorn’s sensational and non-Indigenous people. Confronted 70’s premiership run that he was going • Providing funding and support to by the living standards and lack of to join the remainder of the kids in the Eastern Eaglehawks under 18 opportunities of those in the community the street and barrack for the Hawks. Indigenous football team; to those afforded to people in the city, However it was the turn of events that Cathie immediately felt the need to make followed Cathie’s visit to Lockhart River • Growing and leveraging a current an effort and to make a difference. that created a stronger bond with both affiliation with Big River Hawks Hawthorn and Indigenous Australia than under 18 football team from either of them could have imagined. Katherine; Sport can act as a mechanism or catalyst for change regardless of cultural background. Photo credit: AFL Media • Facilitating a leadership and cultural • Providing Hawthorn Football Club The impact of the HIP is far reaching, awareness camp in Melbourne for star player and AFL Indigenous beyond potential players from the the Big River Hawks under 18 football All-Stars Captain, Shaun Burgoyne Northern Territory, but also local players team from Katherine; as an Indigenous Ambassador. as well. Fox adds, ‘We would hope that local players in both the Northern • Facilitating an annual Community According to Stuart Fox, CEO of Territory and Melbourne respect the work Camp with specific Indigenous Hawthorn Football Club, the support that the club are doing in their communities. activity in Tasmania; Epic Good offers makes an enormous Football is a great vehicle to drive cultural difference to the HIP, claiming, • Providing Indigenous cultural and social change. awareness training for all administration staff, 1st and 2nd ‘This new partnership with The program aims to build leadership year players; Stuart and Cathie will enable while promoting cultural awareness, school attendance and healthy lifestyle • Officially supporting the “Racism. It the club to extend the reach, choices to all who are involved. Our hope Stops With Me” campaign; breadth and growth of our would be that these programs provide an • Facilitating an Indigenous Auskick Indigenous Programs.’ inspiration to young players and students Centre visit from Northern Territory in the Northern Territory to strive for their to Melbourne; A five year funding commitment in this goals and aspirations. We would also space also allows the programs to hope that players Australia-wide see • Undertaking a community visit to continue to develop, evolve and grow Hawthorn as a Destination club; where Katherine with a Hawthorn Football in this time so we can help affect real the very best people aspire to join our Club Indigenous player – minimum change.’ pursuit of excellence, unity and success.’ one per year; www.epicgood.com.au Fox is grateful for the partnership with It’s the health benefits rather than the The pair are not only creating Epic Pharmacy because it has allowed game that drive belief in the program opportunities for young Indigenous the Club to take their work in Indigenous though as Cathie says, ‘The link between players, but they are leading the way communities to the next level, while also physical activity and health is well for their own children Sam and Sascha creating sustainable change. ‘We now known. And one of the greatest gaps to recognise and develop a sense of have two Indigenous positions within between remote communities and urban social responsibility, leadership and the club, a first for Hawthorn. Most AFL life is health outcomes and we can do the importance of giving back to the clubs work in the Indigenous space, a far better job as a country in closing community. Sascha is already part of however we are very proud to highlight the gap on diabetes etc. One way to the United Nations Girl Up program that we are first to have a donation improve is via education and if you can empowering young girls around the partnership (rather than sponsorship) encourage kids to stay in school and world. And for his part, Sam and his over a five-year period. Stuart and then perhaps encourage kids to go into teammates from the Wests Juniors Cathie have merged their two passions, health work – hopefully this translates Bulldogs Club in Brisbane were part Hawthorn Football Club and Indigenous into higher education opportunities and of the AFL program where players communities, and for that we are very health based vocations.’ donated their boots to kids in remote thankful.’ communities in 2014. ‘This act alone Cathie went on to note, ‘We have our gave the boys a sense of brotherhood On the field and in the community first two Epic Pharmacy Aboriginal – a connection with the boys they sent Indigenous players have responsibility and Torres Strait Islander Pharmacy their boots to’, Cathie says proudly. and accountability as role models and Assistant Trainees employed at our leaders. Ambassador Shaun Burgoyne Kempsey and Port Macquarie hospital Epic Good also means support from the says, ‘I am looking forward to the locations and are looking forward to stands as well, as Stuart hopes to be mentoring role within the program, greatly expanding this aspect of our cheering for the Eaglehawks during their through which I’ll be able to help core business. We also aim to increase games, and even going to Darwin to see develop indigenous leaders within each Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander the Big River Hawks later in the year. community we visit.’ participation in the pharmacy workforce and thereby assisting pharmacies to Cathie and Stuart are an epic-duo who While Cyril Rioli who’s autographed better meet the needs of their local have already made an impact with their guernsey triggered this bigger vision communities.’ philanthropy elsewhere but recognise says, ‘I am really excited with the that there is always more that can be opportunity to strengthen our current Philanthropy is a core family philosophy done. Cathie says with a sense of hope program and commitment to the as Stuart adds, ‘We always try to link our and positivity, ‘This is a ball that we are Katherine region where we already have life experiences to our philanthropy. We very happy to help start rolling, we are established a strong footprint.’ understand how blessed and lucky we already in discussions with other parties are with our own children’s health and and we hope that will generate more well-being.

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