Some of the action from the weekend's Tribute Match
Phil Johns, National President of the Vietnam Swans sends a thank you note to all those who contributed to the success of the Tribute Match.
Dear Swannies
For your information, it is with great pleasure that I advise that the raffle for the Craig Senger Indonesia Memorial Fund which was drawn last Saturday after the Vietnam Swans Vs Lao Elephants Tribute Match, raised VND23.9million (AU$1,540). Craig Senger had been a player with the Jakarta Bintangs Aussie Rules Club.
Thank you to all those who contributed so generously in providing prizes and purchasing tickets in the raffle. (See below for a list of the prize winners.). Special mention to Shannon Leahy and Aidan Storer, both Swannies and Austrade Officials, for their outstanding work in making it happen.
In other news, the Vietnam Swans actually knocked off the Lao Elephants in a thriller. The final margin was just 4 points.
Prior to the match, the Australian Ambassador, the Deputy / Minister Counsellor from the Indonesian Embassy and Dave Kainey (“Official Legend” of the Jakarta Bintangs and former Swans President) addressed all players and spectators. Together, we then observed a minute’s silence.
After the match, players from both sides signed a miniature match day banner. A commemorative plaque was also unveiled. The plaque reads:
Vietnam Swans Vs Lao Elephants
An Aussie Rules Tribute Match to celebrate the lives of those who lost them on 17 July 2009 – including Craig Senger; Jakarta Bintang, colleague and friend.
Let them always be remembered.
Hanoi, 8 August 2009
Both the plaque and the banner will be jointly presented by the Vietnam Swans and Lao Elephants to the Jakarta Bintangs when we next meet each other at the Asian Championships in Kuala Lumpur on 5 September 2009.
After Saturday’s match, I had the opportunity to speak with Tim Hakfoort, President of the Jakarta Bintangs. Tim expressed his thanks and appreciation and mentioned that the Bintangs would probably forward the plaque and banner to Craig Senger’s wife, Kate.
To think that what we did in Hanoi would warrant forwarding these items to Kate at such a time is humbling. It is a reminder that when the scale of loss is so great, the symbols and the timing becomes increasingly important.
