Sam Birrell’s decision to be the first Kyabram Junior Football Club Big Freeze volunteer to take the plunge on Friday night at the recreation reserve was as much about his status as an Assumption College alumni as it was about as his civic duty as the Federal Member for Nichols.
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Mr Birrell, sporting a Big Freeze 9 beanie and a bright yellow t-shirt from his 2022 election campaign, was one of more than 20 people who sat in the “hot seat” to assist the club its its Motor Neurone Disease fundraising event.
He said, after being dunked into the icy water by a volunteer who paid handsomely for the privilege, that his decision to become involved in the now annual event was inspired by former Essendon champion and Melbourne coach Neale Daniher.
Mr Birrell also attended the opening of the oval-side pavilion that was named in honour of the former VFL star and patron of Fight MND.
After emerging from the icy water he said Daniher had sent a note to National Party member Darren Chester, which was delivered to parliament, thanking people for their support of the campaign.
His Friday evening appearance was followed by a second citing of the heavily involved member, who was cooking the barbecue at the Kyabram Netball Association’s annual tournament on Sunday morning.
More about the big freeze and KNA tournament inside today’s 32 page Free Press.
Job done: Sam Birrell went from sitting in the warmth of Canberra’s Parliament House one week to being dunked into ice cold water at Kyabram Junior Football Club’s Big Freeze a week later. He also was on hand to help volunteers cook a barbecue on Sunday morning at the Kyabram Netball Association’s annual tournament.
