25 November 2020

Belconnen, Queanbeyan and Batemans Bay go directly to Monopoly

| Michael Weaver
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The custom Australian Community Relief Monopoly game board.

Twenty-two communities from around the nation are featured on the custom Australian Community Relief Monopoly game board. Photos: Supplied.

Belconnen, Queanbeyan and Batemans Bay are featured on a customised version of Monopoly released to raise money for regional communities which have been affected by various disasters including bushfires, floods and now COVID-19.

The Australian Community Relief version of the board game was released today (25 November), with $5 from each board sold donated directly to The Australian Red Cross, to further assist these areas and people in need around Australia.

A Monopoly jigsaw puzzle of the board will also be available, with $2 from each sale also donated to the Red Cross.

A selection of the pieces in the Australian Community Relief version.

A selection of the pieces in the Australian Community Relief version.

Replacing the traditional pieces such as the car, the iron and the wheelbarrow are more typically Australian items such as a thong, a kangaroo and a Sherrin.

The game includes COVID-specific ‘Community Chest’ and ‘Chance’ cards including “you are caught hoarding 240 rolls of toilet paper – pay $50”.

The prized locations of Mayfair and Park Lane have been taken by Gippsland and Mildura in Victoria. Belconnen and Queanbeyan appear as well, replacing Old Kent Road and Whitechapel Road, while you can see the jail from Batemans Bay.

A representative from Winning Moves Australia, the makers of custom Monopoly boards licensed from Hasbro, Charlotte Waalkens, said choosing the locations to put on the board was very difficult.

“There are so many phenomenal places to choose from in Australia, and we wanted to showcase places above and beyond the usual cities or hotspots.

“We feel that the Australian Community Relief Monopoly board and puzzle capture the heart of Australia and shine a positive light on regions that otherwise may not normally receive such exposure. We hope it will also bring a bit of much-needed joy to Australian families over the holidays,” Ms Waalkens said.

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As well as showcasing some of the regions that were severely impacted by natural disasters in 2020, Ms Waalkens said the game has also been created to highlight the community spirit and strength of these locations.

“We wanted to provide Australians with something positive in the challenging year that is 2020, and highlight how incredible our own backyard is, whilst also supporting Australians in need.

“The communities chosen have all gone through a tough time for one reason or another as everyone has in 2020 and we thought they deserved something special to remind everyone how incredible they are and help inject some positive spirit through the Australian Community Relief Monopoly game.”

The games will be available through games retailers nationwide, or direct from Winning Moves. The game retails for $59.99 and the jigsaw puzzle for $19.99.

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