Bomber brood: Tyler, Bonnie, Eden and Grace were able to get to the football for the first time together at the weekend.
The long tradition of Essendon indoctrination in my family officially continued on Friday night.
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It is one thing to shower your babies and toddlers in branded clothing, sign them up as members and teach them how to say “Go Bombers”, but it is entirely another to take them to the MCG alongside 40,000 other football fans.
The buzz of a stadium of supporters was really the final step in locking Bonnie in as a Bomber for life — or at least until she can string the words “you’re dreaming, Dad” together in a coherent sentence.
Eden has been through the same process, and the fact that her first game in person was a win to the Bombers isn’t lost on me.
Will Bonnie’s support stick after watching a loss to Melbourne first-up? We can only wait with bated breath to find out.
Heading down to the football — and then across to Dandenong for the Ultimate Bowls Championship event throughout the rest of the weekend — did remind me how tough it can be for residents of the region to take in what the city has to offer.
From hotel stays to hours upon hours in the car and coming home feeling exhausted, getting out and about in Melbourne as a greater Shepparton resident isn’t always all it is cracked up to be.
But it makes having great attractions and events here even more important for those of us in town who cannot commit the time, money or effort to getting away on the weekend.
Sporting and community events don’t just have the benefit of attracting tourism to the Goulburn Valley, they also encourage a vibrant and engaging social scene locally, keeping residents interested — and around — for longer, and on a larger scale.
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