YEAR OF THE DOG ALREADY A WINNER

The Chinese Year of the Dog has already provided fortuitous for two groups of staunch Western Bulldogs supporters in East Gippsland.

The football club, in association with Gippsland MP Peter Hall, has bestowed special Community Year of the Dog club memberships following entries from interested supporters.

Mr Hall presented the memberships to delighted Bulldogs' fans, 13 year old Brodee Bills from Lakes Entrance and Debbie Hiskins from Paynesville, today (Wednesday 12 April).

Mr Hall said the memberships were awarded on the basis of entries from each family.

"It's great to see the thrill these memberships have given the recipients; it would be hard to find more loyal fans anywhere!" he said.

Brodee made her entry on behalf of her grandfather, Allen Bills, a lifelong supporter of the Bulldogs, who is also a life member of the Lakes Entrance Football Club. He obviously had some influence on Brodee, who wrote as part of her entry; "I think I should win this membership because then I can go to more games, meet more players and stop losing my voice at home."

Her main purpose however was for her 'Pop', who is recovering from a stroke.

Debbie Hoskins submitted her entry as a poem, which says it all.

'Family of five doggies fans are we
My husband and sons have memberships three
Please Mr Hall don't make me moan
Don't make my daughter and I stay home alone
Please Mr Hall have a heart
Don't let my daughter and I be kept apart
Let our family all be at the matches together
So we can all get up and shout
Bulldogs forever.'

Mr Hall said the initiative was an excellent one by the Western Bulldogs, as it provided more country people with the opportunity to be involved.

"It has raised a great deal of interest in this area and will help keep country people involved in the sport they so obviously love," he said.

Media contact: Peter Hall's office (03) 5174 7066