THE BUYER of a house to raise money for two former football stars battling health issues has revealed personal links to both men.
Jessica Hansen said she was the teacher of Tim ‘Bluey’ McGrath’s daughter at Bellaire Primary School and her brother, Darcy, played alongside Casey Tutungi at South Barwon Football Club.
Ms Hansen and partner Luke Andrews, both of Torquay, bought the house as their first home at a charity auction for the men on Saturday.
They paid $410,000 for the house in Armstrong Creek’s Warralily estate, with $130,000 each to go toward treatment for Mr McGrath and Mr Tutungi.
Mr McGrath, a former champion Cats defender, is battling melanoma and Mr Tutungi was left a quadriplegic after a football accident this year.
Organiser of the auction said Ms Hansen had kept her links to the men secret until after the auction.
Ms Hansen said she had been keeping an eye on construction of the home.
“It has been quite inspiring following the fund-raising house being built and also watching the community band together to support both guys.
“To be able to share in that by buying this home is an amazing feeling.
“I have been watching the house develop over the last few months, as my colleague lives four doors down and I have been driving past the house every morning when I pick her up for work. Now it’s my home.”
More than 70 Geelong and Melbourne businesses contributed to the fundraising house.
Warralily’s Sean Duke said the sale at auction was a “fitting finale to the community project”.
