Gold Coast SUNS Community Manager Corey Bell has hailed the club’s Community Camp a smash hit after a string of huge local turnouts right across the Gold Coast.

As part of Community Camp, the entire GC SUNS playing list attended a AFL Gold Coast Juniors sign-on day at Broadwater Parklands, Gary Ablett and Karmichael Hunt attended Currumbin State School to help launch the AFL’s ‘Are you smarter than a SUNS player?’ quiz initiative and the Club’s activities were capped off last Tuesday with an open training session at Dauth Park, Beenleigh, home of the mighty Beenleigh Buffaloes.

“We pride ourselves on our ability to get out there and have a presence and make a real contribution in the community,“ Bell said. “But when you see so many locals showing up to share the experience with the club, you can’t help but be blown away. The response all week was just outstanding.”

According to Bell, the sign on day at Broadwater Parklands was a particular highlight.

“For starters it was a classic sunny Gold Coast day. We had every junior club represented and there were literally thousands of kids running around having a kick and a chat with the players. It was a spectacular sight. The players absolutely loved it, too.”

Bell said the many of the club's activities quite deliberately took place at locations in the Gold Coast's Northern Growth Corridor, a particular focus area for the GC SUNS. He said initiatives like Community Week not only provide a vital platform for the club to spread the word about AFL but also to promote a positive message about grassroots community involvement.

“I believe we reached as many as 20,000 Gold Coasters over the course of the week. You can’t underestimate the feeling a kid gets by being up close to a Gary Ablett or a Jared Brennan or a David Swallow. If that leaves a good positive impression and it motivates them to have a go at sport or try harder at school or just to feel good about themselves, then we know we’re contributing to a better community.”