Football Clubs Take Oath to Drive Safely and Win $30,000

01 Aug 2011

MEDIA RELEASE: 01 August, 2011

Two local football clubs are $30,000 richer after their players took an oath to drive safely for the Transport Accident's Commission's (TAC) latest road safety campaign, My Blood Oath.

The Southern Dragons and Yarra Junction football clubs won the grand prize after they had accumulated the most oaths when the campaign finished at midnight Sunday.

My Blood Oath, a campaign fronted by senior coaching twins Brad and Chris Scott, reminded young people that "Your mate's life is in your hands" and pushed the road safety message through football clubs at all levels.

The campaign was supported by AFL Victoria and was the TAC's largest ever social media venture.

My Blood Oath attracted more than 40,000 ‘likes' on Facebook, and more than 17,000 people took an oath to drive safely.

Of the 1,163 football clubs registered with AFL Victoria, 995 clubs took an oath for road safety.

The Southern Dragons, who play in Melbourne's Southern Football League, led the metropolitan-based leader board with 1,669 oaths, and the Yarra Junction Eagles, who play in the Yarra Valley Mountain District Football League, led the country-based clubs with 1,616 oaths.

Southern Dragons club President, Tri Thoi, was excited for his club to have won the $30,000.

"The money is a massive bonus for our young club and will help us to further develop and promote Aussie Rules to a diverse community group.

 "I am glad that our supporters were able to assist in promoting the importance of this message and I am sure what we have done will save lives in the future."
 
The Southern Dragons are a multicultural club, made up of primarily Vietnamese and Cambodian players. About half of all the Dragons' playing list were born in Vietnam.

The Yarra Junction Eagles are a small country club, with the youngest playing list in their league.

Club President, Tony Aulich said he was proud of his younger footballers and netballers who had made an effort to get behind the campaign.

"We want our young players to play for a club that reflects community values, and this message is so important for them," Mr Aulich said.

TAC Chief Executive Officer, Janet Dore, congratulated both clubs for showing leadership within their community and being involved in the campaign.

"It might seem like a small thing to do, but every person who took an oath was showing their team mates that they care about them, and that they will look after them on the road," Ms Dore said.

"This campaign may have finished after one month, but the community's focus on road trauma must remain ongoing because we lose too many young people each year to stop the momentum."

For further information please contact Sarah Henderson on 0429 294 262.