The Sirens continue to be the club’s most generous coterie group when it comes to their support of Fremantle’s charity partner, the Starlight Children’s Foundation.
This year, in advance of this Saturday’s Starlight Purple Haze Game against GWS at Optus Stadium, the Sirens have raised more than $21,000 for seriously ill children and their families.
These fundraising efforts came despite the complications caused by Covid-19, which significantly impacted some of their fundraising efforts and events.
Sirens group coordinator Diane Meakins said that their support of Starlight went beyond their love for Freo.
“Most of us at the Sirens are mothers and some of our ladies have had personal experiences, with grandchildren in particular, who have spent time in the Starlight Express Room to take their minds off things,” Meakins said.
“In one particular situation, one child was very very sick and there were times when it was only things like Captain Starlight and the players visiting that got her through it.
“We hear these stories over and over from some of our ladies, so it’s really personal to a lot of them.
“I was very lucky that my son was never sick, so while I was one of the lucky ones, I’m just glad to know that there’s something like Starlight there to support those sick kids and their families.”
The Sirens will be honoured at half time of Saturday’s clash and Meakins said the whole group was excited to get together and celebrate their achievements.
“There will be a presentation at half time but more important than that, we’ll all get together before the game at Optus Stadium just to celebrate our Starlight successes with our fundraising this year,” Meakins said.
One story illustrates how hard the Sirens worked in these fundraising efforts.
When Diane Hill won a raffle for one of Mannie Shea's famous cakes, they had to organise a delivery across an intrastate border, which was closed at the time under WA Government regulations.
In the photo below, we see Diana Hill receiving her prize at the Lake Clifton Border near Mandurah, with Mannie on the right, showing that even Covid-19 couldn't stop the Sirens!
