Australian fires hit Jacksonville nerve

When the Jacksonville Axemen rugby league coach learned about devastating losses caused by fires in Australia, he decided to do something about it.

(Jacksonville, Fla.)—Jacksonville often serves as a national stage for international Rugby League teams and our home team the Jacksonville Axemen plays a spirited game as well.

The northernmost major city iCoach Spinner Howland is well known to rugby league fans. Click the photo to visit the Jacksonville Axemen website. [Photo from Jaxaxe.com]n Florida has hosted many Australian visitors and rugby league players. It just so happens Axemen coach and co-founder Spinner Howland is Australian. Coach Spinner is one of the most interesting interviews I’ve done—I met him when I did a story for the community section of The Florida Times Union. He’s got the total look of the rugby player—a nose that’s taken plenty of assaults and a physique that tells you he is one guy in tip top shape. We actually celebrated Australia Day here in 2008 because Spinner got the ball rolling and brought many different groups to the table to plan it. When Spinner heard about the fires in Australia, he did something entirely in character. He decided to do something about it.

He sent an email out asking team fans and supporters for help, and in a complete break with standard pleas for assistance, he asked that no one send cash. Instead the coach asked for donations of clothing, blankets and toys. “Please do not send money,” he wrote. “[t]here are plenty of Jacksonville charities that need as much support as possible at the moment.” Spinner and the team have contributed to charity fundraisers for different groups here. Coats were especially needed because summer comes to an end in parts of Australia just as the US is about to enter spring. “It will soon be getting cold in the Southern part of the country, so these are most needed,” he said.

He designated drop-off points at the Time Out Sports Grill on Beach Blvd. and the Walkabout Café at Atlantic and Hodges. He even gave his home address in case that was a more convenient location for donors.

The Biblical chestnut about giving and receiving held true. “My house looks like a Goodwill store,” Spinner told me. “It actually kind of hit me last night about how people have helped me with this and I am so humbled by them all. People have been dropping stuff off with cards saying ‘thanks for doing this.’”

“I am a tough bloke,” he said, “but even my emotions have been tested with this outpouring of support.”

Spinner will ship the donations to the St. Vincent DePaul Society in Australia. He said, “It is tough for me to comprehend that not only have whole families been killed during these fires, but in some cases multiple families from one town have perished. In addition to the dead there are literally hundreds of homes destroyed.”

The Telegraph (London) said more than 7,000 people are homeless because of the fires. The death toll stands at 201. Two men have been charged with arson in separate cases.

Spinner’s actions and the outpouring of support reflect a kinship between countries that he helped kindle. The coach, the team and the fans came together to help others in a crisis. “It’s the Aussie way to just get in and get the job done,” he said.