The Long and The Short Of It

ATTENTION: Rugby league fans! The much anticipated 64-player shortlist revealing the possible candidates for coach Wayne Bennett's team - to play in the 2011 Harvey Norman Rugby League All Stars match - has been announced!

Now that Stage One of the selection process is complete, the voting process will be much tougher with fans having to vote for only one player from each club.

“You only have to look at the players who missed out to realise just how competitive the voting process is, " commented NRL Chief Executive, David Gallop.

Don't miss out on making YOUR selection! Stage Two voting opens at Midday AEDT (11:00am Queensland time) January 3rd at www.nrl.com/allstars and closes January 27th.

With results of Stage One finalised, the top 5 voted players are as follows:
1. Nathan Hindmarsh - Parramatta Eels

2. Josh Dugan - Canberra Raiders
3. Sam Burgess* - South Sydney Rabbitohs
4. Todd Carney - Sydney Roosters
5. Jarryd Hayne - Parramatta Eels
* Sam Burgess has been withdrawn from voting due to injury.

To view the complete 64 player shortlist, head to nrl shortlist

Snap-Happy Santa

We all know that Santa Claus is coming to town but what patients at Coffs Harbour Base Hospital didn't know was that Saint Nick would be paying them a special bedside visit - accompanied by his cheery Harvey Norman Photography team!
Organised by the Harvey Norman social club, the visit saw Santa handing out colouring sets to very excited junior patients and posing for photographs with them.
According to Harvey Norman Coffs Harbour computer franchisee Liz Jones, Santa provided the patients with a healthy dose of Christmas cheer.
 "Nurses told us there was a great buzz in the hospital that afternoon, with patients telling their visitors Santa had been to see them."

All Star Attraction

 Parramatta Eels captain Nathan Hindmarsh is leading the pack, thus far, when it comes to attracting the most votes for the NRL All Stars Team. The first player to be selected for the team will be the player who receives the most votes in one position.

After the first stage of voting ends - Tuesday, December 28th - an initial 64 player shortlist comprising two forwards and backs from each club will be announced.

The second stage of voting, commencing January 3, will see the Aussie public selecting one player from each of the 16 NRL clubs.

Does fan favourite Nathan Hindmarsh make your squad?

To vote for your favourite NRL All Star player, head to http://www.nrl.com/repgames/allstarsvoting/tabid/10972/default.aspx before time runs out!

Don't miss out on your tickets for the 2011 Harvey Norman All Stars match, visit http://premier.ticketek.com.au/shows/show.aspx?sh=ALLSTARS11

Making Waves

Harvey Norman Noarlunga franchisee Anthony Phillips has saved the day for two young lifesavers whose dreams of competing in the upcoming surf lifesaving season were dashed.

South Port nippers Allana Campbell and Taylah Eastwood 's hopes of participating in surf lifesaving events were destroyed when their prized boards were stolen from the Port Noarlunga South clubhouse. Upon reading of Allana and Taylah's plight in the local paper, Anthony generously offered to finance new boards to be made in time for the Port Elliot surf carnival. Looks like surf's up, after all, for the talented twosome!

High Tea for Charity

If you...

a) think that frocking up and sipping champers sounds like a plan

b) are free this Saturday 16th October

c) live in Qld

...then it's time for you to find your fanciest fascinator in readiness for the Allora High Tea at the Races fundraising event!

With fantasic prizes up for grabs as well as fashion on the fields and three race calls for entertainment - this is one day out you won't wanna miss! With contributions from Harvey Norman and NAB and support from local business, the event aims to raise funds for Angel Flight,  Vision Australia and Ovarian Cancer.

The event is $25 per person and will be held at Yettembah, 71 Elphinstone Road, Allora. Bookings are a must - buy tickets from the Allora and Clifton NAB.

Women In League's Local Heroes

Congratulations to the 2010 winners of the Harvey Norman Women In League Achievement Awards (volunteer and paid employee), announced at tonight's fourth annual One Community awards.
Winner of the volunteer award, Sue Fletcher has been involved with Springsure RLFC for 18 years and has been known to travel up to 330km for a club meeting!
Deanne Lee, who took out the paid winner award, started out with the Manly Sea Eagles as a trainer with the junior teams before joining the Admin team in 2001 as Football Operations Manager. Deanne has also played an instrumental role in implementing several community programs for the club.

Vote for Your All Star Cast

Public voting for the 2011 Harvey Norman Rugby League All Stars launched yesterday, with the nominated players among today's elite Rugby League athletes. This NRL Indigenous All Stars v NRL All Stars match is only the second of its kind and will once again celebrate the game's best Indigenous and non-Indigenous players in the spirit of harmony and community.

At yesterday's launch, ARL Indigenous Council Chairman, Mr William ‘Smiley’Johnstone, commented that the Australian public had passionately embraced the 2010 inaugural All Stars match to make it "one of the most innovative and celebrated events in Rugby League’s history and the only representative match in Australian sport where the public picks the teams".

Notably, the second All Stars match will be played at Skilled Park on the Gold Coast on the eve of the third anniversary of the Government’s National Apology to the Stolen Generations - February 12, 2011.

Ready to celebrate the diversity of Rugby League and cast your vote? Well, what are you waiting for? Head to http://www.nrl.com/repgames/allstarsvoting/tabid/10972/default.aspx to play your part as both fan and selector!

Backyard Footy At Its Best!

One thing guaranteed to spark the interest of an otherwise XBox-obsessed, sedentary youngster - a game of old-school backyard footy!

ARL Development Officer Drew Dalton recently proved this point when he offered the kids of Macarthur the chance to get involved in a laidback, modified version of the game. Despite less-than-perfect weather, nearly 50 children turned up to Bradbury Oval and a fun-filled game was had by all.

On behalf of Harvey Norman and ARL Development, every participant received a football while the game's winners scored an iPod Shuffle.

Doin' it 4 the Kids

This Friday 20th August, Harvey Norman Carindale Computer franchisee Adam English will take part in the annual Ks 4 Country Kids, a three-day charity bike ride through QLD's Western Downs. The funds raised help the Leukaemia Foundation care for and support rural kids living with leukaemia, lymphomas, myeloma and related blood disorders.

YOU can make a difference! If you'd like to show your support for the Leukaemia Foundation of Queensland and sponsor Adam and his gruelling 260km bike ride, head to

https://secure.leukaemiafoundation.org.au/registrant/donate.aspx?EventID=10011&LangPref=en-CA&SPID=1183998

Good luck, Adam!

On Your Bike!

Team Harvey Norman are once again taking up the challenge of the annual Sydney to Wollongong bike ride to raise funds in support of those living with Multiple Sclerosis.

Did you know?

• Multiple Sclerosis is a lifelong disease of the central nervous system, for which there is no known cure.
• More than 20,000 Aussies currently have MS.
• MS Australia not only supports the search for a cure for MS sufferers but also provides information on treatments that can assist them with better managing their symptoms.

While last year's efforts raised close to $40k and earned the Harvey Norman team a not-to-be-sniffed-at sixth place, it is hoped that they will smash that amount this year! If you'd like to show your support by donating much-needed funds, visit http://register.gongride.org.au/MS-Sydney-to-the-Gong-Bike-Ride/
And now, there remains only one thing left to say..."Go Harvey, go Harvey, go Harvey Norman, GO!"

Fundraising for the St Johns Eagles

January, 2010 heralded a major setback for the St Johns Eagles JRLC - one of the most successful rugby league clubs in the Canterbury/Bankstown District - when their Begnell Oval clubhouse, change rooms and canteen were burnt down in a senseless act of vandalism.
The club is now in need of community support to rebuild the clubhouse for its 22 teams, and will be holding a fundraising dinner - at the Mt Lewis Bowling Club, this Saturday 7th August - at which league legend Terry Lamb and Tim and Johnny Mannah will be guest-speakers.
Signed jerseys will be up for auction on the night, and Harvey Norman Wiley Park have kindly donated $7500 worth of prizes for the raffle.
For more information or to make a donation, call 0413 304 668

http://www.stjohnseagles.com.au/

Going Off for Charity

For those adventurous souls out there with a passion for going off-road, the Variety™ NSW “River to Reef” 4WD Adventure is a must! Proudly supported by Harvey Norman®, the six-day event is all about escaping the everyday and seeing new sights, making new friends and living it up on the four-wheel-drive experience of a lifetime! Better still, all funds raised go to Variety™, the children’s charity for Aussie kids who are sick, disadvantaged or have special needs.

Running from 8th-13th November, the adventure spans the Hunter River, Gloucester, Port Macquarie, Armidale, Glen Innes, Lennox Reef, and covers country not normally open to the public.

Sound good? We think so, too! For more info, visit http://www.varietynsw.org.au/4WD

Lunch with the Bulldogs

On Tuesday the 20th July, several Harvey Norman® staff members were invited to the Inaugural Canterbury Bulldogs SMS (Sport, Media and Social Responsibility) Lunch, which was hosted to highlight the importance of the Bulldogs role in the community and media. Guest speakers included Bulldogs CEO Todd Greenberg, NRL CEO David Gallop, CEO of Fox Sports Australia David Malone, CEO of Greening Australia Pip Walsh and Sports Editor of the Sun Herald Liz Hannan. Each speaker highlighted the important role that Rugby League players have as role models in the community - whether it be donating their time to charity, their image in the media or their responsibility as role models to young children.

Catch the Action for a Great Cause!

If there's one footy game you've just gotta see this year it's the Harvey Norman® Charity Touch Football Match - Franchisees v Suppliers! After their shock defeat last year, the Harvey Norman® team are staging an almighty comeback and their star-studded line-up includes Phil Kearns plus some (hush, hush) top secret NRL guest players.
Held in conjunction with the Humpty Dumpty Foundation, the game will kick off at 7pm on Wednesday 11th August in the Main Arena of Sydney Showground, Olympic Park.
Catch the action, have some fun and show your support for the Humpty Dumpty Foundation by making a gold coin donation on the night. Food, soft drinks and alcohol will be available at the event.

Celebrate Women in League

Throughout the month of June, Harvey Norman® are rewarding the Grassroots Club who organise the best Women In League activity on home turf with the chance to score a $1000 Harvey Norman gift card.

Not sure how to make your day a winner? Raise funds for a charity such as the McGrath Foundation. Try hosting a ladies footy day or encourage all spectators to look pretty in pink! 

Enter by emailing your story and photos to onecommunity@rugbyleague.com.au by Friday July 2nd, 2010.

A League of Their Own

Last week, the NRL launched its fourth annual Harvey Norman® Women in League initiative which acknowledges and celebrates the inspirational role of the 40,000 women at the heart of Rugby League.

Commenting on the Women in League campaign, NRL Chief Executive, Mr David Gallop said:

“Women are a part of the game all year round but the next few weeks provide us all with an opportunity to highlight their contribution to Rugby League."

Kicking off on Friday June 25th, the Harvey Norman® Women in League Round features four weeks of club celebrations including:

• Parramatta's private screening of Sex and the City 2 - aptly titled "Eels in Heels"
• Wests Tigers holding a morning tea tribute to their female volunteers
• The Raiders marking the round with a junior girls mini match on game day
• The Panthers testing out their culinary skills in pink as part of a pre match event

...plus so many more exciting events from other clubs!

Mr David Gallop said the forthcoming events were a great way to highlight the contribution made by women to the game and that these celebrations would also serve to encourage gender diversity in Rugby League.

Emphasising the issue of gender diversity, Mr Gallop revealed that Harvey Norman®'s Women in League charity partner the McGrath foundation, and the NRL, are issuing a challenge to Aussie women and men to become breast aware - in order to debunk the notion that breast cancer is a female-only issue.

Those interested can register at http://www.rloc.com.au/ or http://www.mcgrathfoundation.com.au/.

South Australia's Young Achievers

Harvey Norman® is proudly showing its support for South Australia’s youth by becoming category sponsor for the Channel 9 Young Achiever Awards Career Achievement Award.

Open to all young South Australians aged 14-28 years, the awards program has been established with the aim of acknowledging, encouraging and rewarding youth achievement.

The program will be launched in September, with a three-month call for nominations.

'You Can' Campaign for Youth Cancer

Harvey Norman® has joined Sony Foundation’s ‘You Can’ campaign which raises money to establish specialised cancer centres for Australian teens. The ‘You Can’ appeal calls on the Australian public to recycle their pre-loved mobile phones in order to raise funds to build these much-needed youth cancer centres.

Every Harvey Norman® computer franchise now has a mobile phone collection bin, from which the donated phones will be recycled for parts or refurbished and sold.

For more info on the You Can campaign, visit www.youcan.org.au