'It's going to be a bit of a hard slog': Dockers urge supporters to aid WA's Kimberley flood appeal

Jarred Cross
Jarred Cross Published January 17, 2023 at 9.00am (AWST)

AFL club Fremantle has urged supporters to rally behind communities in WA's flood-hit Kimberley region.

The state's north has bore the brunt of severe flooding in recent weeks, sparking community action and government intervention as destruction plagues the area.

Dockers' forward Bailey Banfield, alongside four of his teammates, is from the Kimberley.

Banfield's family's small business is in limbo as they try to salvage a tour boat from the bottom of a creek.

On Monday the 24-year-old fronted the club's Purple Hands Foundation Kimberley Floods Appeal, asking members for contributions towards providing immediate aid and prolonged efforts to help the region recover.

"We're asking the purple army and our Freo family to get behind and donate to this appeal, and then we're going to donate it as a big sum to the Disaster Relief Fund," he said.

"There's a lot of people in temporary shelters and a lot of people who have lost a lot and family's been displaced. That's tough stuff for anyone.

"With the wet season still going it's going to be a while until they can get meaningful roadworks and that sort of thing done.

"It's going to be a bit of a hard slog and we're just wanting to support and help that process as much as we can."

Bailey said the club holds strong ties to the community and came together as a group to put the systems in place.

Fellow Dockers Roy Benning, Joel Hamling, Liam Henry and Conrad Williams also hail from the Kimberley.

Together, Fremantle are pushing to provide as many resources as possible, something Bailey believes is part of their purpose as part of the community.

"It's not just this initial phase where the floodwaters are still there and are slowly going down, It'll be moving forward," Bailey said.

"There's still going to be logistical challenges, getting resources and supplies out there and with the bridge and the road damage, it's going to be a lot longer than just a couple of weeks of recovery.

"As a club, we're really committed to staying connected and supporting the communities up there through that whole period. We want to be a part of our community and not just take from the community but give back more than what we take."

All donations to the Purple Hands Foundation Floods Appeal from January 16-23 go directly into WA's official Lord Mayor's Disaster Relief state emergency fund.

Supporters can donate via the Dockers website.

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