The day aims to unite multicultural communities through a mutual appreciation of Australian Rules football and will include a game featuring former Essendon greats and AFP members playing against the United Multicultural Muslim Youth Team. The two sides will be coached by Essendon players Adam Ramanauskas and Bachar Houli.
Essendon General Manager - Community and Media, Simon Matthews, hopes the family event may one day develop into an integral event for the club and community social calendars.
""We think Australian Rules Football has an important role to play in the development of social cohesion across the community and that makes events such as the Unity Cup very important,"" Matthews said.
""Essendon Football Club is genuine about making a difference in the community and this event is a fun way to engage with multicultural communities using something iconically Australian - Australian Rules Football.""
AFP Melbourne Office Manager, Commander Alan Scott, said the event builds on the work of the AFP Islamic Liaison Team and the Islamic community, who, for the last 12 months have worked cooperatively to build a relationship between the community and the AFP.
""The Unity Cup is a great opportunity for the community to meet AFP members, debunking some of the myths surrounding law enforcement and showing that police are members of the communities they work in,"" Mr Scott said.
""This event is about fostering a mutual understanding and respect, highlighting positive ways police and culturally diverse communities are working together.""
Other events scheduled for the Family Day include:
- Autograph and photo opportunities with Essendon players
- A round robin football challenge between four multicultural communities, consisting of local community members and representatives from Victoria Police
- Live performances from multicultural entertainers
- Competitions
- Children’s entertainment and more.
