"Beaconsfield Bash" Fundraising???

[Ecky]

I'm not trying to sound disrespectful or anything but...

Can someone explain why we are supposed to be giving money to this "Beaconsfield Bash"?

A single person died, and the two survivors are allegedly going to make up to a million dollars by selling their story.

When will the footy show be coming to Gladstone, where 3 times as many people died? Or to the families of the many car crash victims or countless other tragedies that happen around Australia basically every day? How much money will Eddie be giving them?

It all just seems a bit lopsided to me...

[Punk Rooster]

I'm inclined to agree- surely the pay-out they recieve from work (even just the over-time ) will be plenty. Plus media etc etc...

[Ian]

It will be interesting to see if it gets a response.

Sam, I think it's fantastic that the footy show has got involved with the Beaconsfield tradgedy, raising money etc. for the victims.
This week in Gladstone, South Australia, a munitions factory exploded. The Southern Flinders Ranges Football Club has been decimated by the tradgedy, one of the injured, Cameron Edson and one of the deceased, Mathew Keeley had both had stints with SANFL club, North Adelaides junior sides prior to returning to their home town. One of the SFRFC board members, Darren Millington was also killed in the explosion.
This is a article from the Advertiser news paper 11/05/06,

The broken heart of a close-knit rural community
By BRYAN LITTLELY
11may06
THE local footy team is at the heart of a country community and, at the Southern Flinders Football Club, that heart has been broken.
A-grade captain Damian Harris, 30, and full forward Mathew Keeley, 22, were working inside the Beetaloo Valley factory at the time of the explosion, as was father-of-three Darren Millington, 41, a football club committee member and strong supporter of the club's junior sides.
Mr Millington's sons, Rhys and Koby, captain their respective colts teams and his daughter, Bailey, plays netball.
Mr Keeley, who's son, Ethan, was born just four months ago, returned to the area this year after a stint with SANFL club North Adelaide.
"I don't think there are any words that can describe the grief and despair this tragedy has hit us with," club president Geoff Brand said yesterday. "You can never replace people like these. These people are gone from our lives and it will take a long time for us to recover."
Mr Brand said the club was considering a league plan to cancel all matches this weekend as a mark of respect for the three men who died. Yesterday though, members were giving their support to the victims' families and to the vice-captain Cameron Edson, who was seriously injured in the blast.

Although this tradgedy didn't get the prolonged media coverage that the Beaconsfield tradgedy recieved, the devastation to the community's of Gladstone, Laura and the surounding districts has undoubtably been no less.
It would be fantastic if the footy show could get involved with something similar to tonights fund raiser.

[Brad]

Great post Ian.

FYI - All games in Northern Areas have be cancelled this weekend and will played next week as the association game has been called off that was to be played next weekend.

[mal]

ECKY

Thats a fair call.

Remember the Threadbo thing a few years ago
well those people were stiff wrong place at the'
wrong time and they deserved all the publicity
etc etc. [that Stuart guy made $$$$ after he was saved]
However with the miners it was by choice not circumstance
and call it an occupational hazard.
No different to a taxi driver a cop or a soldier where you
put yourself at risk in your field of work.

Dont get me wrong Im rapt these guys were saved BUT
whats happened at Gladstone and Threadbo was far worse.

[Maddogmike]

I dont think this forum really needs a right or wrong answer. There are alot of people out there with far too much money, from doing far too little in this world.

If people want to chip in to help out those who have suffered loss or may suffer for years to come in whatever unfortunate circumstance they have encountered, then let them.

I dont think it makes sense to play one event off against another.

I personally would rather have what I have and not need to think about what any of the people mentioned have been through.

Mal, you cant compare a taxi driver to a miner, but I know what point you are trying to get across.

[spell_check]

Without seeing this thread, this is what I posted on BigFooty:

A few days ago 3 workers died in an explosion at an explosives factory near Gladstone in SA. Because it wasn't drawn out and live coverage around Australia didn't occur, the people in the area won't be given a penny by Ed or Kochie.

[mal]

M/MIKE

Gotta feel sad about the guy who didnt survive.
Just an aussie guy doing his job.
Condolences to his familyare in order.

I think Ecky was making a point that there are
countless other tradgedies which have falied to
live up to the HYPE this one did.

As for the 2 that survived if they make a buck
good luck to them they deserve it.

[spell_check]

Just had a thought - do they get paid for all the hours they were down in the cage?

[heater31]

Just had a thought - do they get paid for all the hours they were down in the cage?

yes they do, as their clock on/off cards were not swiped to signal the end of thier shift for 14 days.
even if the mining company said no pay, the unions would kick up a stink about hazard pay or some other excuse.

[spell_check]

That's true. They would also get overtime etc. on top of what would be received elsewhere.

[RM]

I heard today that Oprah want's them for a 1 hour special in America and will pay up to 6 million dollars for them.

Hmm, they wont have to work again.

I too thought what the hell are thay asking money for last night and when Todd Russell said how big is your cheque book, I turned it off.

[Ian]

I wonder If I'll hear anything from the footy show, not holding my breath though, I'll keep everyone posted either way.

If anyone else wants to send a letter, heres the address, http://sports.ninemsn.com.au/afl/samsmail.aspx

[Mr66]

Why do RICH celebrities ask non-rich non-celebrities to donate money to
a cause? I'll give something when I see these people take out THEIR
chequebooks and donate very generoulsy to a particular charity.

[Maddogmike]

Ian did you donate to the Eyre Peninsula Bush fire victims 18 months ago? Did you help out the Tsunami appeal?

Everyone feels horrible for what happened, but stop trying to compare the tragedies.

The media are crap, but no point in moaning about it.

[Ian]

Ian did you donate to the Eyre Peninsula Bush fire victims 18 months ago?

Yes, and so did both my kids

Did you help out the Tsunami appeal?

As above,

..........but I fail to see what that has got to do with it.
The footy show has put on a show for Beaconsfield, with a massive fundraiser, they had 1 death, and 2 blokes who went through hell for 14 days, but will come out of it richer than anyone on here could ever imagine.
Both incidints are tragic, and I feel for all concerned, but I can't help feeling that the footy show got on board a disaster that recieved massive media coverage for 2 weeks, not just for the victims, but for ratings as well.
The death toll, and injury toll in the munitions explosion is far greater than Beaconsfield, but it hit the headlines, then it was all over, without the continued drama.
There is also a football connection with victims of the munitions explosion.

[drebin]

ECKY

Thats a fair call.

Remember the Threadbo thing a few years ago
well those people were stiff wrong place at the'
wrong time and they deserved all the publicity
etc etc. [that Stuart guy made $$$$ after he was saved]
However with the miners it was by choice not circumstance
and call it an occupational hazard.
No different to a taxi driver a cop or a soldier where you
put yourself at risk in your field of work.

Dont get me wrong Im rapt these guys were saved BUT
whats happened at Gladstone and Threadbo was far worse.

I agree and from a personal point of view my wife's brother in law was killed at Thredbo and was the last body removed from the site. He left a wife and a daughter and he and his family got "diddly squat" so I have mixed feelings about these sorts of events - be it that they are tragic but someone always profits and most often it is not the real hero's or the next of kin of the deceased!

[Gilly]

Men lost at sea found safe after 22 days

"Three men survived for 22 days on a diet of squid and rainwater as their small dinghy drifted in choppy waters off Australia's northeastern tip, police said yesterday.

John Tabo, 38, his son John, 20, and nephew Tom Tabo, 16, were found Tuesday and airlifted to safety. They were treated at a clinic for severe dehydration, police said.

The three set off from their Murray Island home April 17 in a five-metre fibreglass boat to pick up members of a rugby league team on an island 70 km away.

But they became disoriented, ran out of fuel and were buffeted by strong winds as Cyclone Monica passed through the Torres Strait, which separates Australia from Papua New Guinea."

[mal]

DREBIN

I think your post sums it all up.

[Maddogmike]

Stop comparing it to other accidents then Ian. Unluckily these people have died.
The volunteers and the rescuers arent getting anything at all from either tragedy so stop whinging about people getting money. They went through 2 weeks of trauma, they deserve anything they get.
As I said before, its not that the Gladstone people dont deserve anything, but we dont need to give them pity. Its not gonna help bring anyone back.

So stop whinging on the internet and put your time into something more useful.