The Brisbane Lions, alongside our Principal Partner Youi, recently travelled to Cherbourg, Queensland as part of our Guernsey Swap Program an initiative that goes beyond symbolic exchange to foster genuine understanding and long-lasting relationships with Aboriginal communities.
As part of this visit, staff and players from the Brisbane Lions and Youi took part in a powerful cultural immersion session at The Ration Shed Museum. This session offered deeply moving and educational insights into the impacts of the Aboriginals Protection and Restriction of the Sale of Opium Act 1897, a policy that controlled nearly every aspect of Aboriginal people's lives in Queensland for decades. Hearing stories from local Elders and learning about the history of dispossession, resilience, and cultural survival provided an opportunity for deep reflection, connection, and respect.
This experience reaffirmed our commitment to truth-telling, reconciliation, and the need to walk alongside Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities with humility and purpose.
In addition to the cultural session, Brisbane Lions players and staff supported by AFL Queensland hosted AFL skills clinics for local children and young people. These sessions provided opportunities for skill-building, mentoring, and connection, while also introducing AFL as a fun, inclusive, and exciting sport. The clinics were a vibrant and engaging part of the day, with plenty of smiles, energy, and talent on display.
As part of our legacy in Cherbourg a proud and strong community traditionally known for its rugby league heritage the Brisbane Lions and Youi collaborated to install AFL goal posts in the local community. This act represents more than infrastructure; it symbolises the introduction of an additional sporting pathway, helping to broaden opportunities for young people in the region who may now dream of playing AFL professionally.
We thank Youi, the Cherbourg community, The Ration Shed, and AFL Queensland for their partnership, generosity, and commitment to growing the game and strengthening community through culture.
