Melbourne Cricket Ground Collection for The Alfred  

For the past eleven years the Rotary Club of Malvern has been actively involved in this annual collection for The Alfred Hospital at the Melbourne Cricket Ground through their MCG Tin Rattle during an AFL match.

Tony Charlton on behalf of The Alfred negotiates with the AFL and the Essendon Football Club for a suitable day.  We have been fortunate over the years to have substantial crowds attend and this MCG TinRattle has resulted in our hard work being well rewarded.

On the day the Malvern members assemble early to organise and set up the distribution centre under the grandstand in readiness for the collectors. The collectors are members or volunteers of the Navy who are bussed up from HMAS Cerberus. The recording of the tin numbers issued to the Navy personnel progress smoothly and after a busy hour or so they are ready to go. We issue two tins to each rating, who, after a briefing and photograph are dispersed around the ground and environs to tin shake.

The Malvern members take a well deserved break and are able to view the magnificent MCG from the boundary fence. To see the crowd build and hear the noise is a special experience for the non football members and the others dream of playing on the famous ground. 

At three quarter time all tins are returned to Malvern members and checked off against our listing. So far we have been able to account for every tin but on several occasions we have been a little concerned trying to located the last 2 -3 tins. Well done Malvern.

We have to date collected well over $160,000 in the MCG Tin Rattle and have a lot of fun in the process.

This is a programme where the Rotary Club of Malvern can use their members to assist in a larger project for the benefit of the community without the necessity to organise all the fine details.  The members have a fun day, get the opportunity to see an AFL game from the fence and enjoy the fellowship of the members.

Be a part in next year’s MCG Tin Rattle!