SA Footy

SANFL CHIEF'S WIFE
IN SMOKING BATTLE
By MICHAEL OWEN
31may06

THE AFL is at loggerheads with the wife of SANFL chief executive Leigh Whicker over Crows and Power-coloured cigarette packet sleeves which have angered the two clubs and football's national governing body.

Annie Whicker, the businesswoman behind the covers, said yesterday she had created the product with her husband's support.

"He has no issue with what I'm doing otherwise I wouldn't be doing it," she said.

Mr Whicker last night stressed he had absolutely no involvement.

The cardboard sleeves in unmistakable Crows and Power colours are being sold to smokers to hide graphic warning images on cigarette packets.

Mrs Whicker created the covers, which bear an image of a footballer but no club logo or name. Marketed as "Packet Jackets", other designs include images of topless men and women.

Since March 1, tobacco companies have been required to print images on cigarette packets depicting the effects of smoking - including gangrenous feet, diseased lungs and mouth cancers.

Earlier this month, Port Adelaide Football Club media and public relations manager Hitaf Rasheed, and Adelaide Football Club communications manager Phil Harper told The Advertiser SA's AFL clubs were unhappy about being linked with smoking, but were powerless to act against anyone using their colours.

The AFL yesterday joined the clubs in expressing anger at being linked with smoking, but confirmed it too was powerless to act.

Mrs Whicker remained defiant: "With all due respect, they (Phil Harper and Hitaf Rasheed) are a fair way down the chain . . . what I choose to do is done with my husband's support, otherwise obviously I wouldn't be doing it."

She said sales were going "pretty well" and she had no intention of withdrawing the product from shops.

To coincide with World No Tobacco Day today - an annual worldwide event to promote awareness about the health effects of smoking and to encourage smokers to make a plan to quit - the Power and the Crows have renewed their opposition to Mrs Whicker's products.

Power players this afternoon will join Wirreanda High School students and other elite athletes in using their bodies to form the words "QUIT TODAY!" at Alberton Oval.

The club works closely with the Health Department's Tobacco Control Unit in educating young people on the dangers of smoking.

Ms Rasheed said it was disappointing Mrs Whicker was behind the cigarette packet sleeves.

"It is disappointing - I know AAMI Stadium is smoke-free and the SANFL pushes the smoke-free message," she said.

Mr Whicker said last night: "Annie has had a project that she's been working on for some three or four years. I have no involvement, no association at all."

He declined further comment.

The State Government will today introduce legislation to ban fruit-flavoured cigarettes.

Can someone tell me WTF it has to do with Leigh Whicker or the SANFL Commission, and why their approval would mean anything?

Annie Whicker, the businesswoman behind the covers, said yesterday she had created the product with her husband's support.

"He has no issue with what I'm doing otherwise I wouldn't be doing it," she said.

Mr Whicker last night stressed he had absolutely no involvement.

spell_check wrote:Annie Whicker, the businesswoman behind the covers, said yesterday she had created the product with her husband's support.

"He has no issue with what I'm doing otherwise I wouldn't be doing it," she said.

Mr Whicker last night stressed he had absolutely no involvement.

Horse fertilizer.

This issue raises two interesting points for me.
1: If smokers in today's world are not educated enough about the ill effects of the products to give them up then they are clearly blinded by their addiction.If they also feel by covering up the grotesque reminders on their packets that the problem will go away they are also rather naive.
2:The fact that some one is praying on anothers suicidal habits for their own gain is of more concern.Shame on you lady.SHAME.

Why does society feel the need to protect people from themselves? As booney said - if people are too stupid to know what they are doing to themselves then perhaps it is best if they remove themselves from the gene pool.

Someone has come up with a business idea and is making some money - this should be applauded, not condemned. She could be collecting the dole instead.

Having known people who have died from cigarette smoking, to profit IN ANY WAY from the cigarette industry is immoral.
Smac wrote:

Someone has come up with a business idea and is making some money - this should be applauded, not condemned.

Surely, there are better business ideas than hiding the message that cigarette smoking kills.

I agree, there are more moral ways in most peoples' eyes, however the choice to smoke or not is not going to be based on whether or not these 'packet jackets' are available.

I personally gave up smoking as a result of the pictures on packets, so I am grateful these weren't widely available a few weeks ago.

smac wrote:Why does society feel the need to protect people from themselves? As booney said - if people are too stupid to know what they are doing to themselves then perhaps it is best if they remove themselves from the gene pool.

It is considered ill-mannered to take your friends with you when you commit suicide. I have no problem with people smoking. That they do it in the same environment as me, polluting my oxygen and impregnating my clothes with the foul stench of their vile habit, is what I take exception to.

FWIW, I don't see the market for these things. Why would a dedicated smoker waste clams on an empty box when he could instead buy another packet of ciggies with them?

As a smoker I can't for the life of me see how these covers are going to be a big seller, personal point of view only..

Leigh Wicker and his wife were divorced a long time ago, and the "jackets" as far as I am aware are "sleeves" which can be reused over and over.... and what ever happend to rights for smokers... sheesh surely we are now not going to be dictated to on how we carry our smokes about....

How can some one tell you what to carry,you got told all the time they are killing you but that doesn't stop you,does it?

and i am slowly eating myself to death too, and enjoying every self-destructive minute......

"BAN ALL SMOKING"

SMOKERS ARE LOOSERS....!

I USED TO BE A LOOSER.

I HAD A HEART ATTACK.

I like to breathe.....!

Lunchcutter wrote:Leigh Wicker and his wife were divorced a long time ago, and the "jackets" as far as I am aware are "sleeves" which can be reused over and over.... and what ever happend to rights for smokers... sheesh surely we are now not going to be dictated to on how we carry our smokes about....

2nd wife

If they want to cut back smoking then there's an easy solution.
Make lighters $10 each.
This would work a treat with me as in the last 6 months I'd estimate that I've bought 5 packs of smokes but 26 lighters.

why can't we go like NZ and ban tobacco alltogther!!!


hang on, what about the revenue it raises stupid

The revenue it raises is out weighed $3 to $1 in the impact it has on our health system.

Wedgie wrote:If they want to cut back smoking then there's an easy solution.
Make lighters $10 each.
This would work a treat with me as in the last 6 months I'd estimate that I've bought 5 packs of smokes but 26 lighters.

And I could sell the 10,000 lighters I have at home for $5 each on ebay!

Dog_ger wrote:"BAN ALL SMOKING"

SMOKERS ARE LOOSERS....!

I USED TO BE A LOOSER.

I HAD A HEART ATTACK.

I like to breathe.....!

BLOODY REFORMED SMOKERS...

I'd give up smoking but i'm no quitter.....