Casey best in print

THE City of Casey 2008 Connolly Games Sister City Sporting and Cultural Exchange has won the Sister Cities Australia Best Print Publicity Media Award.
The games were held in Casey’s sister city Springfield, Ohio, USA.
Coverage for the sports tour was significant with the lead article published in the Pakenham Berwick Gazette.
The judges’ summary said Casey compiled an extensive portfolio in support of the entry and was able to submit more than 20 articles and advertisements covering the tour.
“The press certainly supported the team.
“The City of Casey should be extremely proud of the participants, who spent many hours fund-raising and seeking sponsorship.
“Financial support given to the sporting teams by local business was outstanding,” the judges said.
This award was also a win for the Gazette.
The submission summary said: “The article for which the award is being sought, ‘Group looks smart and ready for sport’, appeared in the Pakenham Berwick Gazette on 4 June 2008.
“The article and accompanying photographs generated interest and public awareness of the 2008 Connolly Games as a sister cities program.
“It succinctly details many aspects important to the sister cities program namely the principles of global friendships, the positive impact on the people involved, community development in organising the exchange and council support for global friendship relationships.”
The award further enhances the relationship between Springfield and Casey people because two trophies are presented with Sister Cities Australia awards with one for the winning applicant and one for the applicant’s sister city.
This will be handed to Springfield representatives at the next opportunity.
The Connolly Games in America and the Edwin Flag Games in Casey are held in turn and create enormous opportunity for young athletes to travel and make friends across the world.
Although this is a challenging and expensive program for families, enormous community support was shown to the team with major fund-raising and from business.
For the young sports people it was an experience of a lifetime and a wonderful effort by all those involved.