The Extraordinary Generosity Of A Brotherhood Of Footy Clubs

Pyramid Power is a very small Australian Rules football club based in Gordonvale, a small town 25 kilometres south of Cairns in far North Queensland. The district has a history of Australian Rules footy, but this club is just a youngster, ten years old, which finally got its first senior team last year when it entered a women’s team in the AFL Cairns competition.

 

The club does things a bit differently, due to the geography and demographics of where they are located, but essentially they are a tiny team on the radar of clubs nationally. With no club-rooms or toilets at their home ground, Power Park, Pyramid Power is “poor” by comparison to its other local rivals.

 

But a little over two years ago the club did something rather extraordinary that has, ironically, made them a club better known outside of Australia than any of their other local rivals.

 

It all started when my own son and daughter rather foolishly introduced me to Facebook. Having previously been an avid opponent of the insidious nature of social media, I was converted to the possibilities of making contact with other clubs across Australia and, as it turned out, the world.

 

During 2012, Pyramid Power formed what is now called their Brother Club Project. As the time of writing this missive, the project numbers 120 clubs worldwide – all of them Australian Rules football clubs. So, how did a tiny club, 3000 kilometres from the game’s heartland in Melbourne and for most of the time no senior team, manage to achieve this connection?

 

If you have time, let me explain.

 

The first “brother club” was another junior-only club based on the Gold Coast called Pacific Pines Power. They shared so many similar qualities to our own Pyramid Power that we felt there was a strong “brotherly” connection. They were junior only, the were also called Power, they were newly formed and at that time they also had no facilities (though they have now). We went into a loose “brother club” connection. We didn’t know it at the time, but they became the first of the now 120 clubs.

 

After that, things were done a little differently. I discovered that by entering the world of “liking”, “friending” and messaging I could make contact with clubs around the world.  By taking the “Brother Club” moniker and inviting friendship Pyramid Power became “brothers” to teams in London, Tokyo, Helsinki, Los Angeles, New York, Rome, Santiago, Saigon, Toronto, Dublin and more. Many more.

 

The acceptances of our invitation were taken up by clubs in countries as disparate as Norway, the United Arab Emirates, Czech Republic, South Africa, New Zealand, China and beyond.

 

At this stage, Pyramid Power has “brother clubs” in over 30 countries on all continents except Antarctica – and that is currently being addressed. The extraordinary reach of our little club, with the aid of Facebook,  a little creativity, and a large dose of what people might call tropical madness, sees Pyramid Power doing something that very few other clubs can claim – in any sport. All the more remarkable when you think we are a small, seniorless (except our brilliant women’s team) and collateral shy club.

 

But what does it mean to be a “brother club”? How does it work? How do you join? What is the catch? Why so many questions?

 

Almost unbelievably simply, being a brother is absolutely nothing more than friendship. It is saying one club will stand beside another as a friend. Beyond that there is no obligation to do anything at all. But some see that as simply being a list of clubs and nothing more.  Well, this is where the beautiful side of the human spirit comes to life. Clubs coming together seems to create its own electrical, chemical or osmosis-like reaction which makes things happen. And that is exactly the case with the “Brother Clubs Project”.

 

Since the inception of the idea our club has been joined by others across Australia and worldwide in helping other clubs. Already sets of jumpers donated by the Baulkham Hills Hawks (one of our earliest Australian “brothers”) have been donated along with other equipment to clubs in Lae, Papua New Guinea, and Bodibe, South Africa. Equipment, books, expertise and anything else we can access has been sent to clubs in England, Scotland, Canada, Fiji and even Russia.

 

These connections have also seen players from our club accept scholarships to play in Melbourne and players from Papua New Guinea come to Cairns to play for local clubs. There are standing offers all across the world for our players to go over there and play. Likewise, our doors, and those of local clubs here, are open to any players who want to come to Australia.

 

Even my own writing for World Footy News has seen some of our “brothers” receive valuable articles which they have then used as publicity for themselves and the game as a whole.

 

We have discovered, almost by accident, that the inherent good in people can be seen in the extraordinary generosity of people and clubs worldwide. The more “brothers” that unite across the world, the more useful and valuable items and opportunities will exchange hands and assist the clubs, players and kids who need them most.

 

The Brother Clubs Project is now in its fourth year. The 120 clubs have been incredible in trusting us to remain altruistic in our aims. We have other ideas in mind as to how we can help other clubs across the world. It all costs money, but we find ways. So do other clubs. The powerful and exciting future could see anything develop.

 

Whether Pyramid Power is still involved or not (and we plan to be, believe me!), we know we have embarked on something special and something that can potentially make a difference to others. We have also learned that if our diminutive, far flung club can generate this level of change, what can 100 or 1000 larger clubs do? It is no coincidence that our 100th “brother” was the Port Adelaide Power AFL club. We asked them, but they would have only said “yes” if they saw something they liked and trusted us.

 

This story isn’t a recruitment poster. We are not asking for new “brothers”, though we won’t knock back any clubs who contact us to show interest. No, we are capable of chasing future “brothers” as we have done since the start of the project.  What we hope this article does is raise awareness of what Pyramid Power has achieved and throw down the gauntlet for other clubs to explore how they can possibly offer themselves to other clubs anywhere in the world.

 

As a club we have been enriched by this experience – by the friends we have made, the joy we have experienced, the positive feedback we have received from other clubs and the feeling we have done something worthwhile and useful.

 

It is a great feeling, and we strongly believe everyone should try it. Reach out to a brother and see how you can help them. The results are spectacular, and so incredibly rewarding.

 

And as for Pyramid Power? We will continue to find new “brothers” while we wait for any sign of a toilet block or change-room heading in our direction.

About Wesley Hull

Passionate lover of Australian Rules football. Have played and coached the game and now spend my time writing about the game I love and introducing young people to the game through school coaching. Will try and give back to the game what it has given me for more that 40 years.

Comments

  1. Onya Wes. Loved getting the occasional bit of news from back home when the Abu Dhabi Falcons joined up.

  2. Brett Kennerley says

    Great write up Wesley. This Pyramid Power certainly seem like a Club on the rise.

  3. This is terrific Wes. Congratulations on the initiative.

    Readers might like to ‘like’ (and see what it’s all about) at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pyramid-Power-Brother-Clubs-Project/537640293018449

  4. Mark 'Swish' Schwerdt says

    Oh Brother, there art thou – well done Wes

    Maybe I’m out of touch, but I’ve never seen numbers such as these before (green team) – those innovative French.

    https://www.facebook.com/perpignantigers/photos/a.648975598550331.1073741835.379434365504457/648976185216939/?type=1&theater

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