The St George Illawarra Dragons yesterday moved to play down their decision to bar an Illawarra cancer support group from campaigning outside WIN Stadium during last week’s home game, saying the club’s support for the cause was ‘‘never in question’’.
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The Illawarra Cancer Carers (ICC) launched a community petition last month calling on the state government to install a positron emission tomography (PET) scanner at Wollongong Hospital.
The group had sought the Dragons’ permission to use last week’s clash with Cronulla Sharks to get signatures for the petition. However the club’s management knocked back the request due to other pre-booked charitable activity, leading ICC committee member Keith Wilson to express his disappointment in the outcome.
But Dragons community manager Paul Everill yesterday said the club’s decision had been ‘‘misrepresented’’.
Mr Everill met Mr Wilson ahead of last night’s game to clear the air and sign the petition on behalf of the club.
‘‘[There was] reference to us not supporting the Illawarra Cancer Carers, nothing could be further from the truth.
‘‘In terms of duty of care, in terms of numbers, we just couldn’t have another charitable association with us,’’ he said, but admitted he did not know how many supporters the ICC wanted to send to the grounds.
Mr Everill also rejected claims the ICC had been barred from campaigning outside WIN Stadium, saying the club could not stop people conducting charity work outside sporting facilities.
But Mr Wilson said he believed asking the Dragons’ permission was the ‘‘right thing to do’’.
‘‘We always seek permission off anybody whose property or function we go to to operate there.’’