Essendon Football Club director, Beverly Knight, has been appointed to the board of club affiliate, the Tiwi Bombers.

 

The Tiwi Bombers board approached Essendon to offer a position on their board and Knight was selected by the EFC board to be the club’s representative.

 

The appointment aims to strengthen the existing relationship between the two clubs and identify meaningful and sustainable opportunities for Essendon to play a role in the Tiwi Bombers.

 

""I am really excited about the role and looking forward to joining  Allan McGill and his board very shortly,"" Knight said.

 

""It's a real opportunity to add value to both Essendon and the Tiwi Bombers. The insight into their operation and where, as partners, Essendon can grow our community program with the Tiwi Islanders, can only be truly understood at board level.

 

""Likewise for the Tiwi directors to have the knowledge of a person sitting at the board table who has been involved with the AFL at the elite level - as both an Essendon director for more than 16 years and AFL Sportsready director for 12 years - is significant.

 

""Essendon is a very strong club with real values and strong clubs have a strong board and I am hoping that now I can be key part of the Tiwi Bombers club. Tiwi is not just a team but it's now a club. I also have a fair understanding of other clubs in the AFLNT and Northern Territory generally.""

 
Tiwi Bombers' chairman, Allan McGiill, said Essendon's support has assisted the development of the very young Tiwi Bombers Football Club.
 
""To now have a more direct link between the two clubs with Beverley as a member of both boards is an excellent move in the further development of the Tiwi Bombers,"" he said.
 
""Our club is only three years old and has a great deal of development work to do in  the areas of management , sponsorship and membership.""
 

Knight has worked with many Tiwi people for more than 20 years in in her capacity as Director of Alcaston Gallery in Melbourne. She has a genuine understanding of issues facing the Tiwi but also their spectacular sporting skills and how they can be harnessed for the long term.

 

""The timing for this appointment is also amazing to be able to have an opportunity to have a crack at a NTFL grand final in my first few weeks is irresistible!,"" she said.

 

""The Tiwi Bombers are an excitement machine and I feel so proud that they are wearing the mighty  red and black!""

 

As a Tiwi Bombers director, Beverly will work closely with Essendon management to update the EFC / Tiwi Bombers partnership agreement and broader Tiwi Islands football development plan.

 

To support the Tiwi Bombers by becoming a member click here.

 

To support the Tiwi Bombers Essendon has:

 

·         Assisted in facilitating the establishment of Tiwi Bombers

·         Major sponsor (ongoing) of Tiwi Bombers since their inception (financial assistance)

·         Provided regular in-kind support re: equipment and apparel (playing / training guernseys, footballs etc)

·         Supported full-time AFLNT regional development manager on Tiwi Islands

·         Conducted community visits with Essendon players each year for last three years

·         Supported local schools (including Clontarf Academy) through the provision of equipment, apparel and resources

·         Supported Tiwi Bombers around sustainability issues (EFC management assistance)

·         Supported Tiwi Bombers visit to Melbourne to participate in Dreamtime at the 'G (2007)

·         Supported Imalu Tigers (local Tiwi team) visit to Melbourne to participate in Dreamtime at the 'G (2009)

·         Supported Tiwi Bomber youngsters in Melbourne on scholarship

 
Members Update: Around 6000 membership packs have been sent out in recent days - to learn more click here.