19 June 2006

Raiders go left wing

| kimba
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I was wondering if this is a good move for the Raiders. Will it disenfranchise conservative voters and the business community. I for one will have to think twice about my Raiders’ membership!

CFMEU Raiders in 2007

The Canberra Raiders have announced the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union as their new Major Sponsor for 2007 today, in a partnership that will extend to the end of the 2009 season.

The CFMEU has long been a supporter of the Canberra Raiders and the ACT community, through their sponsorship of the Raiders lower grades and through their various charitable organisations.

ACT Chief Minister Jon Stanhope made the official announcement today at the appropriate venue of the section 84 building site in Canberra City, in front of around 200 construction workers, CFMEU officials and Canberra Raiders staff and players.

A keen Raiders supporter, Mr Stanhope said he was delighted to see the CFMEU get on board and support one of Canberra’s true sporting institutions, and he wished both the Raiders and the CFMEU all the best for their new partnership.

Raiders chairman John McIntyre welcomed the CFMEU to the Raiders family, and said it was good to see the clubs future secured through what he described as a great and prosperous partnership.

“The Raiders have long been a part of the Canberra community, and it’s great to continue that tradition with the help of the CFMEU,” Mr McIntyre said. “The Raiders are truly grateful to be associated with the CFMEU and we hope it is a lasting partnership.”

Secretary of the ACT branch of the CFMEU and Tradies club George Wason said it was an exciting time for his organistation, and he looked forward to future success through the CFMEU Raiders.

“We are very proud and thrilled to be a part of a great organisation such as the Raiders,” Mr Wason said. “The CFMEU has long been a part of helping the community, and we are now privileged to be a supporter of that community’s number one team.”

Raiders Captain Clinton Schifcofske said it’s a comforting factor the players involved with the club to know their future is secure through such a Major sponsorship, and he thanked the CFMEU for getting on board.

Schifcofske then presented Jason O’Mara from Construction Control with the new CFMEU Raiders jumper, and officially let the CFMEU Raiders flag fly above the section 84 construction site.

Ben Pollack

Canberra Raiders

Media Manager

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See what? That you’re talking crap?

C’mon vg – you’re on record as not being entirely pleased with Stanhope’s record of governance (a fairly legitimate beef, IMO) but Simto’s right in saying that your going into apoplexy everytime his name is mentioned looks a bit petulant.

There are none so blind that will not see

Was this and the worthy causes you’ve expoused on the same day? If not, you’re Sonic bashing – they’re not actually competing priorities. And hey, there’s plenty of reasons to bash him, but chucking one in randomly on a thread that doesn’t concern the reasons you’ve raised sounds petulant.

Kinda like every time someone mentions Deb Foskey in any category whatsoever, we get the whole “house-hogger” thing all over again. It gets old.

Tell me how me questioning the validity of attending this but not other things is irrelevant to this thread? God forbid I should question it.

Sonic bashing is a poor way to describe it

Then you’re commenting on the wrong thread, vg. Save your Sonic-bashing for a relevant thread.

I couldnt care less if the CFMEU sponsors the Raiders. I packed down in the scrum with Georgie Wason many a time. My point is that Sonic can make time for this but not other things.

sux to not be a catholic then…

Homer Simpson said it best:

“Suppose we’ve chosen the wrong god. Every time we go to church we’re just making him madder and madder”.

hehehehe

Absent Diane4:23 pm 20 Jun 06

Can I save that until I am on my death bed? that way I can continue to live immorally (sp?) and then in the nick of time…. everything I have ever done will be forgiven. That truely is a great system…

To be saved, AD!

(Being saving only works for those who go to Catholic Churches by the way!)

why didn’t we think of this earlier!?… let’s just force everyone to go to church… then they’ll believe in god for sure!

hehehe.

Absent Diane4:05 pm 20 Jun 06

go to church to do what?

Personally I’d rather see the CFMEU spending their funds on making Jon Stanhope (and AD!) go to church, whilst putting on a big piss up for the rest of us!

Absent Diane2:05 pm 20 Jun 06

its funny that those of us with an agenda will find any little way they can to make whatever topic relevant to that agenda…

Actually vg, I would. And I do agree that it was a bit weak, but I am sure you the strength of character to deal with it. Sorry but in my opinion many such occupations show a distinct lack of creativity and ability to go out and forge one owns career.

As for CFMEU membership wages being used, I dare say the funds will becoming out of an entirely seperate bucket of funds from strategic investments that the organisation has made on behalf of its members.

As a non-for profit entity, this would come under some craxy topic such as community involvement, or some other accountantcy/legal term thingy.

benno – vg’s statments are just part of his Stanhope-bashing agenda; but saying he’s hiding behind his badge is a bit rich.

vg – would you even want Sonic at the rememberance ceremonies? Or could we expect a post along the lines of “What the hell is Standope doing sullying the memories of our valiant boys in blue with his pinko-commo-lezzo-lefty presence”?

Aaaaannnyyway…I don’t see a problem with the CFMEU sponsoring the Raiders. They’re in a membership drive, after all. It’s just like any other large organisation spending money on advertising. Hey – i’m sure Save The Children spends a portion of the money I give to them to save said children on advertising.

I think people might just be a bit uncomfortable with the political connotaions, but hey…the times they are a-changing.

NFI about how much money is involved – but I’d be on pretty safe ground to add that I think the Raiders are lucky to gain another national sponsor. Wonder why Fone Zone didn’t opt to extend?

And I’d have to agree with vg – these events are not about church, they’re about respect. ’nuff said.

It’s about as dodgy as a major corporation using their money to sponsor a team when they could be using those funds to look after their shareholders or their employees, surely?

VG, I have to agree with your sentiments about Stanhope not putting the effort into making an appearance at the Memorial Day Service; it is rather poor form on his behalf.

Back on topic now. I still reckon it’s a bit dodgy that a trade union are using their membership fees to sponsor a football team, when surely that money could be used to look after CFMEU members.

How much money would a major sponsor be putting up for this kind of deal anyway?

The Rememberance Day service is not a religious one as such. Multi-denominational etc etc. Nothing to do with his religion, rather the fact the he opened an obscure gallery at the old Kingston power station on the same day as the rememberance day thingy. Its all to do with what a CM should be doing, not religion.

Benno the old ‘hiding behind your badge’ analogy is boring. Its right up there with the ‘my taxes pay your wages’ and ‘why arent you out there catching real criminals’…very droll and, to be honest, the haven of the unintelligent.

I am a member of the Canberra Race Club, never seen the CM there. Raced 4 Mont 24hr races, never seen him there. I can guarantee that, with all your petty name calling, you wouldnt have the temerity to repeat what you called me to my face when I am out of uniform or my ‘badge’ as you like to put it…pathetic.

My point has nothing to do with religion, its where Standope’s priorities are. The fact that he can’t put his own idealogies to one side far enough to, god forbid, walk into a church and participate in a non-denominational service to commemorate people who have died serving their communities, or one that have died as a result of the bombings in London, should be one for concern.

Take the angry little man blinkers off Benno

Absent Diane11:50 am 20 Jun 06

If something happens in a church it is a religious issue. I get bombarded with all types of religous crap where ever I go from people wearing crosses to people using religious terms. And I want it eradicated. It is as simple as that. If the CM won’t go into a church… I personally thank that is fantastic. Maybe the cops should organise something not religously aligned such as the AWM. That is far more tactful than a church.

Has Stanhope been inside other houses of worship on other occasions? So he’s just boycotting mainstream christianity for whatever trendy cred it might get him?

Or is this just a case of random Stanhope bashing in a thread that hasn’t got much to do with him?

Absent Diane9:35 am 20 Jun 06

Good on stanhope for going no where near a church. I think it is disgraceful when any political leader shows a certain biased for some idiot fucking religion.

Once again vg you have provided another reason why it is best you stay hidden behind your badge. This is a commercial arrangement, between the CFMEU and the Canberra Raiders. The CM or any other union/political figure has had nothing to do with these negotiations. I know this becuase I was at arms length to this process.

The CM has been present at major sponsor announcements for the brumbies and the capitals to name to just a few local sporting teams he supports. Not forgetting the Canberra Races, the rally of Canberra, the Mont 24 hour bike race. Anything else you would like me to add you idiot?

If I was 3 km underground working in a stinking, dirty and hot mine I’d be stoked my union money was going to support the lifestyles of a whole heap of no-hopers.

My fave sponsor for the Raiders was Canberra Milk. When the announcer said to welcome the “Canberra Milk Raiders”, it always sounded like a bunch of kids stealing the milk money. In the crowd, we tried to get a chant of ‘milk, milk, milk’ going when they were on the attack, but for some reason it never took off.

Standope will attend something run by his union mates, but wont attend anything inside a church like the National Police Rememberance Day service or the one commemorating the victims of the London bombing. A pathetic sycophant.

When i queried it with his office all I got was an email in return stating ‘The Chief Minister is fulfilling all his obligations’. Pigs arse he is

I see. I don’t bother with local press anymore.

I think the Raiders will be fine next year. Plenty of young talent coming through – provided they don’t let them get poached by other clubs.

Growling Ferret3:55 pm 19 Jun 06

Ralph

Todays CT had a story suggesting that President Clinton has a get out cause in his contract and was thinking of leaving. With Mogg off to France, Whingeford linked to St George Illawarra, and Jason Smith joining the Souths retirement lounge, I am wondering how the Raiders will even win a game next year…

Wonder if all CFMEU members will get season tickets – which will definately improve crowd figures.

Absent Diane3:45 pm 19 Jun 06

it seems to be the typical.. a raiders player starts going alright and then fcks off… what is the deal with that.. are raiders managment really that fcked in the head..

Well it’s not unusual at all because South Sydney has a huge chunk of membership aligned with the CFMEU.

Adam Mogg is going to pommy land. Not Schifcofske.

Absent Diane3:14 pm 19 Jun 06

i think the bigger problem is that they will be aligning themselves with something semi-intellectual… and the league fans heads will explode…. hehe…

I would actually like to see a league team sponsored by the library… that would be hilarious.. imagine the ads… Canberra Raiders prouldy sponsored by THE LIBRARY…

perhaps “disaffect” would have been a better phrase

rather than left-wing / right wing it’s certainly a move to be associated with the working classes, which is a point of difference from the brumbies one supposes.

How do you mean “disenfranchise”? Disenfranchise means to withold the franchise from a person or group – ie to stop them from being able to vote (or to make their vote have no meaning).

On the substantive issue, I guess time will tell – but it’s worth remembering that the historical origins of Rugby League involved the mainly working-class teams breaking away from the existing Rugby code.

What’s wrong with unions engaging in normal commercial arrangements such as this?

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