For the fourth straight year, the GC SUNS have smashed their target of 5,000 hours spent working in the community with the club celebrating the occasion at another successful SHINE carnival for primary school students at Metricon Stadium.

Taking in to account the hours spent by players and staff conducting community appearances, the club ticked over the 5,000-hour mark in early September.

Community Programs Manager, Corey Bell, said the entire club was excited about achieving the mark for the fourth year in a row.

“The club can be really proud of the 5,000 community hours this year, and essentially 20,000 hours since coming in to the AFL four years ago,” Bell said.

“We just thought the work the players have done, with staff, out in the community, in schools, with Gold Coast students, is a really great opportunity to celebrate that milestone.”

Charlie Dixon – who has been with the club since its inaugural season in the 2009 TAC Cup for under 18s – won the club’s Community award at last Friday’s Club Champion dinner at Sharks Event Centre. His work as a Horizon program Ambassador in the Gold Coast’s Northern Growth Corridor was just one of a number of stories of players going above and beyond the club’s expectations in the community.

This year’s effort came on the back of Zac Smith winning the Jim Stynes Community Leadership Award at last year’s Brownlow Medal night.

“It’s the work the players do over and above what they’re required to do,” Bell said.

“It’s the work the staff do with them in the community, outside of the club, and essentially the impact they can have in the community with our charities, with our schools, with our junior clubs and people in need.

“A good example is the upcoming White Christmas charity event (at Movie World in December).”