The 500 Supporters’ Group 2019 AFL Lunch

The 500 Supporters’ Group via the Edmund Rice Foundation is a significant fundraiser for the Christian Brothers’ Ruben Centre, Nairobi Kenya. Since its establishment, the Group has raised in excess of $5,000,000 for the Ruben Centre. Each year the group organises two luncheons which are held at the Melbourne Cricket Group (MCG) to raise funds for Ruben. Brother Frank O’Shea, Director of the Ruben Centre, and key staff member Liz Mwangi, Programs Manager, were special guests at the luncheon. The two Kenyan visitors were interviewed by Kurt Fearnely.

The MC for the occasion was Leon Wiegard, a well-known Melbourne identity who specializes in adding just the right amount of content when required to his natural light-hearted style. Leon interviewed a father son combination Barry and Tom Mitchell. Barry was a star rover across 221 games, 170 of them with the Sydney Swans. Tom currently plays for Hawthorn and won the Brownlow medal (best and fairest for the AFL) last year (2018).

It was a most enjoyable and successful event. Thanks to many people who support the event with a special mention to Louise Allison of ERFA who is one of the key organizes.