Day two of the Telstra AFL Community Camp kicked off with a number of primary and secondary school visits across the Darling Downs, along with businesses and aged care facilities.
Jonathan Brown, along with Bryce Retzlaff and Matthew Austin were the Lions players that witnessed the destroyed houses, piles of rubbish, the railway bridge that once had vehicles and all manner of debris jammed up against it. These, and others, are the images of devastation that will stick in the mind of these players and in particular Jonathan Brown throughout the 2011 AFL season when the going gets tough.
The Brisbane captain will also remember the 70-odd smiling faces at Grantham State School when he led a visit to the tiny flood-ravaged town as part of the Lions' two-day community camp.
Former Lions player, assistant coach and welfare officer Craig Lambert refers to Brown as the "People's Champ" and it was easy to see why as he brought joy to the children, parents and teachers with his trademark knockabout demeanour. On and off the field, it takes a lot to stop Brown in his tracks, but witnessing the aftermath of last month's floods in the Darling Downs has left its mark on the 200-game superstar.
"We will be using it as a reference all throughout the year and we want to do Queensland proud," Brown said yesterday.
"We see ourselves as Queensland's team ... people are going through a really tough time, so if we can contribute a little bit on the field and bring some joy to people, it would be fantastic.
"At the same time, we are in the fortunate position where we can affect people's lives in a positive way and we are going to try and use that as a driving force."
Visits also included Joel Patful and Brent Staker taking a small charter plane to another flood devastated town of Chinchilla. Staker and Patful visited both Chinchilla primary and secondary schools and also the private school in region. The rest of the Lions squad participated in schools visits in Toowoomba, Highfields, Pittsworth, Dalby and Warwick. Lions players including Simon Black made a guest appearance at the Pittsworth SHS's annual interhouse swimming carnival and even got in their own race to see who was the quickest Lion.
Schools participated in coaching clinics, along with autograph and photo sessions and Concordia College was treated to a stirring speech by Lions defender Matt Maguire, who spoke at the need to work as a team and also strive for your goal.
Visits to the schools concluded around midday and the Lions had one more jammed packed afternoon left in the 2011 Telstra AFL Community Camp.
Photos: Jonathan Brown with Grantham State School students during their visit; Simon Black swimming at the Pittsworth SHS swimming carnival; Bryce Retzlaff, Matt Austin and Jonathan Brown with Grantham State School students; Lions Defender Joel Patful and Utility Brent Staker in the small plane to Chinchilla; Chinchilla State School celebrating the Lions visit
Last Modified on 28/03/2011 11:55
