Ministerial Statement: Queensland Rail sponsors cricket greats

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Minister for Transport
The Honourable Rachel Nolan
16/11/2010

Queensland Rail sponsors cricket greats

Queensland Rail is teaming up with past Queensland cricket greats to promote participation in sport in regional areas and support local communities and charities throughout the state.

Transport Minister Rachel Nolan has announced that Queensland Rail will contribute $200,000 this year with an option to continue for three years for naming rights sponsorship of the Bulls Masters, a promotional organisation following in the footsteps of Rugby League's Former Origin Greats (FOGS) and the Australian Cricket Association Masters.

The organisation is chaired by former Australian wicket keeper Ian Healy and hosts regional exhibition games against local invitational teams and other fundraising activities.

"The Bulls Masters are an excellent partner for Queensland Rail, which is well recognised as an iconic Queensland company," Ms Nolan said.

"They have a long and proud history of serving regional communities throughout Queensland and I'm delighted they are able to support this great initiative.

"This is a terrific promotion for healthy living and a fundraiser for local charities at the same time.

"It's a sponsorship opportunity that differs from common sports sponsorships that focus on supporting the performance of a team or an individual," Ms Nolan said.

Ian Healy said he was motivated to get involved with the organisation after seeing the positive work the FOGS had done over recent years.

"Helping to develop the game in country Queensland is something that is very important to us. I played a lot of cricket in Biloela and many of us who played for the Bulls during our careers come from regional areas," Mr Healy said.

Mr Healy said building relationships with regional communities was a key element to expanding the game in Queensland and recruiting local support for the group's charity work.

"We'll be using cricket as a tool to help with our fundraising activities but the focal point will always be giving something back to the community," he said.

"A number of us in the squad will also be taking part in goodwill visits to hospitals, retirement villages and indigenous communities."

Nearly 200 former Queensland Bulls players have signed on to visit regional areas next year including international greats Allan Border, Greg Chappell, Carl Rackemann, Michael Kasprowicz and Jeff Thomson.

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