Demonlanders help purchase Liam's debut guernsey...

[Pates 9,537]

Apart from the Troy Broadbridge memorial game, this past week i have never been prouder to be a Melbourne fan. Seeing the way everyone (players, admins, fans, footy world) rallied behind Jim, and the response to this fantastic idea from fork, it's given me goosebumps!

I'm going to look into whether i can go to the guernsey presentation, i think it'll be something special.

Edited July 6, 2009 by Pates

[Guest mollydee]

DN 124459

This is my first post. I have been visiting and eading for a long time. I just had to get involved in this. Fantastic effort. Thank you.

[the jumper 0]

Me too - had to get involved in this. Another $100 DN122475. Good job Luke you have stirred an 'instirrable' supporter

[H_T 2,941]

DN 124459

This is my first post. I have been visiting and eading for a long time. I just had to get involved in this. Fantastic effort. Thank you.

Me too - had to get involved in this. Another $100 DN122475. Good job Luke you have stirred an 'instirrable' supporter

Good on you guys and welcome. Luke has shown great initiative and he'd be wrapped with responses such as these.

I noticed in the 'Confidential' section of yesterday's herald-sun, they made mention of the two sites (Land & O'logy) coming together to purchase the jumper for liam's community. It said it was planned to be presented at the Richmond game.

I understand WJ and Judee of O'logy will be present as representatives for the presentation. Well done to all. Special mention must be given to Luke.

[the fork 357]

Tower your right. The response to this is perhaps even bigger than most possibly realise. I have had people contact me who aren't even posters wanting to donate. The small mention in the paper has spawned a new flood of people wanting to give. It sends shivers up my spine.

As Tower mentioned Judee and Jack are the representatives for the formal presentation and more media is planned, but if anyone has contacts I think they should point them toward the Long Journey event.

For those wondering it is not too late to donate, any excess funds are going toward ensuring that Mt Theo aren't out of pocket getting representatives from Yuendumu to the presentation. Beyond that it will go toward getting some Demons gear out to Yuendumu.

There will be a full wash up of how all funds were used after the event. The club and the Women of Melbourne committee have been great about incorporating our efforts into the Long Journey event.

My thoughts just roll onto how Liam and his family must feel about this...

[Wolfmother 182]

Luke... great effort and thanks for organising this.... If the guys are out of pocket please let us know... I'll throw in some more if need be....

Wish I could be at the presentation but sadly I'm deployed overseas.... Its great to see this little demon community get things together and this is what a footy club is about.... The meeting up at the pub before a game occassion is great and the praccy matches played over the off season against other sites is great as well...

[mikeod 21]

Booked for the function today.

Very much looking forward to it.

[Whispering_Jack 28,094]

I'm extremely honoured to have been chosen along with Judee to make the presentation but all of the credit goes to Luke (The Fork) for giving this initiative so much momentum and to everyone who contributed for getting it across the line. More importantly I hope that this journey of Liam Jurrah's goes from strength to strength, that it puts the small indigenous communities of the centre on the map and that it brings about better and happier lives for their people and in particular, their children.

I hope to catch up with many of the contributors at the function and thanks to all whose generosity made this possible!

[Longsufferingnomore 1,489]

I'm extremely honoured to have been chosen along with Judee to make the presentation but all of the credit goes to Luke (The Fork) for giving this initiative so much momentum and to everyone who contributed for getting it across the line. More importantly I hope that this journey of Liam Jurrah's goes from strength to strength, that it puts the small indigenous communities of the centre on the map and that it brings about better and happier lives for their people and in particular, their children.

I hope to catch up with many of the contributors at the function and thanks to all whose generosity made this possible!

Whispher can you wear a red rose in the lapel or something so we know who you are. Don't know what reception I would get going around asking all and sundry if they were the famous WJ

[Gorgoroth 12,360]

Nah a back banner with WJ on it will suffice

[Deeman 1,425]

Nah a back banner with WJ on it will suffice

If he's one of the people presenting the jumper then it wouldn't be too hard to work out who he is, would it?

[Dee Jay 0]

Another first time poster here.What a great effort by all involved! Never been a prouder supporter. $50 DN124612

[RudeBoy 164]

Congratulations to everyone on Demonland, especially Luke (Fork), whispering Jack, Judee and all the others involved in organising this whole thing. Let me tell you that Liam is incredibly thrilled and appreciative of what is being done. I'll be there to take a few photos at the presentation on thursday. His community of Yuendumu, including his beloved Yuendumu Magpies Football club, have virtually no resources at all. They are about to get a tin shed constructed, which will be the first time their team has had any club/change rooms at all. When I was last at Yuendumu, 3 yrs ago, for a sports weekend, the players simply gathered in the scrub and got changed etc. before entering the ground to play football. Every week, their team (seniors and under 17s) have to drive 300 kms (half on a dirt road) to Alice springs where all CAFL games are held. It's a massive logistical task each week to get everyone there, and to get them back to Yuendumu after wards.

When I was last in Yuendumu there was one skinny 17 yr old who caught my eye, with his ability to take screamers at will, kick with both feet and run like the wind. Seeing Liam now playing for the Dees in the AFL on the MCG almost brings tears to my eyes. You guys on Demonland should all feel proud for such a great effort in supporting Liam's community, but the guy I'm most proud of is Jungarrayi himself. Go Liam and go Dees.

Edited July 11, 2009 by RudeBoy

[Kiss of Death 708]

Later payment than expected, lost the internet connection for a week and i'm back on dialup!

Anyhows, DN124658 - there we go.

Super effort by all.

[the fork 357]

Fantastic Back Page story for the Alice Springs local, the Centralian Advocate:

Jumper story full of passion

By: Max Bennett 


THE guernsey Liam Jurrah (pictured flying for a mark) wore on debut against Essendon will rest in its rightful home thanks to the efforts of a passionate group of Melbourne supporters.
The brainchild of Alice Springs-based Demons fan Luke Scholes sparked what can only be described as an avalanche of support, to bring Liam Jurrah's debut guernsey back to Yuendumu.
Scholes' idea snowballed into something far greater and meaningful than he could imagine.

He said: ``Being from Alice Springs, I've followed Liam's progress pretty closely and when I saw the jumper being auctioned off I thought the best place for that jumper to go would be Yuendumu.


``From there I put up a post on the Demonland and Demonology websites hoping to get about 30 people to chip in $20 each, but then it went crazy.


``We had people who haven't even blogged before pledging money, we had supporters giving money, people contacting me anonymously pledging money. It was just amazing.


``There are people out there really battling and they are still pledging money. It shows the generosity of the supporters in helping us make this happen.''
From humble beginnings the concept grew with the football club and the people at the Mt Theo program jumping on board.


He said: ``When I saw we were bidding against the people from Mt Theo I suggested we join forces and they were very keen. We kept bidding and eventually bought it for $3100.''
The winning bid of $3100 was the highest amount fetched for a guernsey on the club's auction website, even ahead of the legendary David Neitz's 300th game jumper.
Susie Low from the Mt Theo program praised the efforts of Scholes and the Demon faithful, believing the jumper will have a profound effect on the community.

Low said: ``Liam is a role model and we're absolutely proud of what he has achieved.
``Having the jumper hanging in the Mt Theo office will be an inspiration to everyone who comes through.
``They will see it every day and say, yep there is hope.''
Low, along with Liam's grandmother Cecily, will travel to Melbourne on Thursday with the football club to conduct a presentation ceremony at the MCG's historic Long Room.
Here the bloggers from Demonland and Demonology will present the jumper to Jurrah who will then hand it over to his grandmother to return to Yuendumu.


Quickly establishing a cult following among Melbourne supporters, a slightly embarrassed Jurrah was happy to see his jumper return home and hopes it can help inspire generations of young people.
He said: ``It's really exciting to see everyone help get the jumper back home.
``Hopefully it can help the young guys and get them to work hard.''

[Gorgoroth 12,360]

Great read.

thanks for the post Fork!

[Its Miller time 6]

a mate of mine just heard about this and is wondering if its too late to donate?

[deesrock 0]

Wow Fork - that article certainly brings a lump to the throat.

I'm so disappointed not to be able to attend tomorrow night but one of my boys has a function at school that we have to attend. Priorities!!!! I nearly showed my true colours and went with the footy function but I thought I had better be a responsible Mum.

I shouldn't speak for the people of Mt Theo, but they will always welcome donations. Have a look on their website - as proud as I am to have been part of the jumper purchase, there is a lot more going on up there and they will always welcome more $$$$.

[the fork 357]

a mate of mine just heard about this and is wondering if its too late to donate?

Hi Miller

The cost of the jumper has been covered, as has it's eventual framing and the transport of Susie and Liam's Grandmother to Melbourne. An amazing result and as others have stated a wonderful thing to have been involved in. The presence of Liam's Grandmother has topped it all off, what a moment it will be when she recieves the jumper. Demonlanders we have made this happen.

Mt Theo have intimated that they possibly would like to spend any access money raised at the club on footy gear, so really any further money raised the club and the young people at Yuendumu will benefit from.

I would like to think that this effort will be the beginning of a strong and meaningful link between us supporters and the Yuendumu community through the Mt Theo organisation. Let it be so.

Anyone attending the Long Journey event who wants to post and let their fellow donors know how things went would be most welcome.

Well done all round.

Luke

Edited July 15, 2009 by the fork

[mikeod 21]

Who IS going tomorrow?

I'll be there, my first MFC function of the year.

[She Devil 64 21]

Who IS going tomorrow?

I'll be there, my first MFC function of the year.

I will be there. I am really excited and can't wait. This is too big an occasion to miss.

Don't forget to vote for Jurrah's goal on AFL's Goal of the Year.

[Pates 9,537]

I will be there, i'm looking forward to meeting my fellow demonland posters!

Edited July 15, 2009 by Pates

[Dreamin' Demon 10]

Hope someone brings a camera - love to see some photos.

[Longsufferingnomore 1,489]

I will be there, i'm looking forward to meeting my fellow demonland posters!

We'll be there. I think I'll be bringing the tissues........

[Satan 2,786]

from the age today

Joy for Jurrah

THE Liam Jurrah juggernaut keeps rolling on. Tonight at a function called "The Long Journey" in the MCG Long Room a few members of his Warlpiri community will be presented with the guernsey the young Melbourne star wore in his debut game against Essendon last month. How it all came about is a story in itself. When the club organised to auction the jumper a bunch of fans on the club's main forums, Demonland and Demonology, reckoned his community should have it so asked supporters to rally to the cause and donate $20 each. The idea was for the community to donate $1500 and supporters the rest, but such was the fans' reaction they eventually paid for the whole thing, raising $4906 in just four days.