Banner raised to honour Chanelle

Andrew Mathieson
A CHEERSQUAD member that tragically took her own life was remembered for her weekly artwork when close friends raised Geelong’s grand final banner.
While some footy fans treated the game like life or death, Cats cheersquad leader Norm Richardson said teenager Chanelle Rae was “in our thoughts” on the AFL’s biggest stage.
The Western Heights College student committed suicide on the Friday night before Geelong’s home match with Melbourne back in July.
Police launched an investigation into claims she was cyber bullied over the internet by some of her peers.
“Chanelle was so much loved and so much a part of the cheersquad,” Mr Richardson told the Independent.
“Her artwork would always come to the fore on a lot of the banners.
“It’s unfortunate that we have to go on like this.”
The 14-year-old was one of star Corey Enright’s biggest supporters.
The two formed a close bond that went past cheering from behind the fence.
Enright was a pall bearer at her funeral that played Geelong’s theme song and released blue and white balloons.
Mr Richardson revealed her brother had been wearing the famous No.44 guernsey during the Cats’ finals campaign to pay tribute to Chanelle’s life.
“It’s Corey Enright’s jumper and naturally enough Corey has played superbly,” he said.
“We were all thinking of Chanelle, but we were also thinking of her family during this time.
“This has been one of those cruel twists of fate.”
The banner made references to the premiership being “Our Ultimate Goal”, pictured with the Cup and a Geelong jumper, and “Congratulations to Gary Ablett” after his Brownlow Medal win.
A confident Mr Richardson said the banner’s message was “worked out a long time ago”.
Geelong’s cheersquad constructed their third consecutive grand final – but first without Chanelle – after 12 years watching the game from home.