Fundraising: hospital swears by it

Swear by it: Belmont Lions president Scott Fort and head trainer Gonzalo Bruna hand Barwon Health nurse Merrin Wake the swear bucket. 133009 Picture: Reg Ryan.

By JENA MARINO

SWEARING and good health don’t generally go well together, but the Belmont Lions Sports Club players have made an exception.
Their swearing and cursing has paid dividends for Barwon Health Foundation.
The players were put to the test and told to give up their naughty words or else contribute to the club swear bucket.
It was one test Barwon Health Foundation was glad they failed – it has tipped an extra $665 into the organisation.
The man behind the idea, head trainer Gonzalo Bruna, said that it was a “culture shock” when players were told that they would be fined for swearing.
“Some of the players found it difficult,” he said, describing the practice of cussing as “quite acceptable” in the sporting community.
The Belmont Lions swear bucket was introduced last season.
“I thought it would be fantastic for a sports club to get involved to raise money,” Bruna said after earlier working with an AFL club which had a similar idea.
He hoped that it will be a life-long tradition at the club, promising it would be back this season.
“I would like it to be a legacy,” he said.
Belmont Lions president Scott Fort and Bruna this week handed over the bucket’s contents to Barwon Health Foundation.