‘Double the Impact – Own the Force’ campaign

Andrew Forrest AO and the Western Force launch the 'Double the Impact - Own the Force' campaign

‘Double the Impact – Own the Force’ campaign

Western Australian of the Year, Andrew Forrest AO, launched a viral ‘Double the Impact - Own the Force’ campaign to allow Road Safety Western Force fans to buy shares in the club and, at the same time, bolster WA’s junior rugby roots.

Mr Forrest is offering interest free, unsecured loans to those who want to buy shares in the Western Force but who can’t afford it.

Mr Forrest will provide the $1,000 per share to the ‘Own the Force’ fund and then the supporter will repay the loan, over time, direct to Rugby WA – not to Mr Forrest. This, essentially, provides rugby in Western Australia $2,000 per applicant - double the impact. This unique model of philanthropy will enable the Western Force to remain financially viable and bolster the junior players’ program.

“I whole-heatedly believe in this unique way at promoting community participation and doubling the benefit for the cause,” said the committed philanthropist and Chairman of the Minderoo Foundation.


The video campaign, featuring star players and a group of youngsters, is aimed at boosting grassroots’ ownership of the club. It also demonstrates to the Australian Rugby Union (ARU), that the entire WA rugby community is behind the Western Force.


“I want to be very clear to the ARU. You try to cut the Road Safety Western Force, you have to go through me first and then all of our players and then our supporters and then all of the parents of young players and, indeed, all proud Western Australians,“ Mr Forrest said. “This is bigger than just a rugby game. I stand behind all of these amazing people who believe in a fair go and the right for Australians to support rugby union as a national sport, not just one reduced to the eastern seaboard.”


Mr Forrest said that ARU must acknowledge Western Force as one of the most successful rugby franchises, with one of the strongest support bases of all the Super Rugby teams and reward them for their efforts – not punish them.


“The Western Force has heart. It is punching way above its weight. It is producing a crop of Wallabies. It is growing its junior player base. It has the backing of its community,” Mr Forrest said.


“How on earth can the ARU even consider causing harm to such a team and indeed to this rugby community?”


The campaign will be launched on Monday and will run, for as long as it takes to ensure the financial security of the club, and the future of the next generation of players, is achieved. ENDS


A copy of the video can be found here at www.rugbywa.asn.au


Media enquiries. Jannette Cotterell. Minderoo Foundation 0419 204 059


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Attachments


Andrew Forrest & Western Force launch the 'Double the Impact -Own the Force' campaign August 06 2017 final final.docx

Just Wow.
I mean wow. So we have the supporters, the administration, the players, the coaches and a very supportive group of individuals investing in the Force and wider RugbyWA including a billionaire.

That statement of you will have to go through me is a massive broadside to the ARU. And from the outsider a game of chicken to see who will flinch first. We all know who's pockets are deeper and of course who is going to get the better press both of which are really important in these kinds of stoushes. Of course in the court of public opinion the ARU lost a long time ago and even the supporters from the traditional heart lands are breaking ranks.

Kapow!!

Listen gals and guys. We have to make very very sure that we continue to send Twiggy the message that we will also put our money where our mouth is. Any one of you would expect the same. We are well short of the $8.0 mill that was pledged.

I get it that uncertainty caused many people to keep their hands in their pockets and that is understandable. We are confident we will win Arbitration which assures that we stay in the competition until 2020 - BUT - the ARU will still own our licence. WE HAVE TO BUY IT BACK.

We also have to show that our Community Model has the cash to grow during these 3 years as well.

Even if in the unlikely event we lose Arbitration, we have Plans B, C and D. So, We are staying put.

So please, buy shares in Own The Force or head to RugbyWA home page and apply for and get an interest free loan to buy a share.

Remember, your shares also give you a voice in our team going forward.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Hansie

Listen gals and guys. We have to make very very sure that we continue to send Twiggy the message that we will also put our money where our mouth is. Any one of you would expect the same. We are well short of the $8.0 mill that was pledged.

I get it that uncertainty caused many people to keep their hands in their pockets and that is understandable. We are confident we will win Arbitration which assures that we stay in the competition until 2020 - BUT - the ARU will still own our licence. WE HAVE TO BUY IT BACK.

We also have to show that our Community Model has the cash to grow during these 3 years as well.


Even if in the unlikely event we lose Arbitration, we have Plans B, C and D. So, We are staying put.

So please, buy shares in Own The Force or head to RugbyWA home page and apply for and get an interest free loan to buy a share.

Remember, your shares also give you a voice in our team going forward.

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I went on Hansie but could see anything about applying for the loan? Do you have a link?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Jules

I went on Hansie but could see anything about applying for the loan? Do you have a link?

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I too cannot figure out how to do it.

show me how to apply for the loan, and i'll do it now...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Hansie

Listen gals and guys. We have to make very very sure that we continue to send Twiggy the message that we will also put our money where our mouth is. Any one of you would expect the same. We are well short of the $8.0 mill that was pledged.

I get it that uncertainty caused many people to keep their hands in their pockets and that is understandable. We are confident we will win Arbitration which assures that we stay in the competition until 2020 - BUT - the ARU will still own our licence. WE HAVE TO BUY IT BACK.

We also have to show that our Community Model has the cash to grow during these 3 years as well.

Even if in the unlikely event we lose Arbitration, we have Plans B, C and D. So, We are staying put.

So please, buy shares in Own The Force or head to RugbyWA home page and apply for and get an interest free loan to buy a share.

Remember, your shares also give you a voice in our team going forward.

---

Hans, my pledge was always conditional on the ability to enter a payment plan.

I'm waiting (almost) patiently for the details of where to sign.

So how does this work for those that have already bought shares? Will Twiggy be matching those with the same amount of money for grassroots, or is it only for new applications through the loan scheme?

Ah ha, The gremlins of cyberspace....... What did we do when we only had telex machines, remember the dotted string of paper....Geez showing my age...

O.K. our boffins are working on it and it should be up soonest.

Can West Australians that live on the East Coast get in on this action?

Another question for you Hansie: for those of us who've already bought shares, can we buy more using Twiggy's scheme, or is the scheme only for those who can't afford to buy any at all?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Hansie

Ah ha, The gremlins of cyberspace....... What did we do when we only had telex machines, remember the dotted string of paper....Geez showing my age...

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Attachment 4971

ARU have probably got the Russians involved.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Exile

Can West Australians that live on the East Coast get in on this action?

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Absolutely.

"Double the impact" is up here: https://www.rugbywa.asn.au/how-to-apply/

(or at least looks like it. I've not seen these screens before and the button I pressed to get there wasn't there this morning).

From the last bit of the page: "The Loan is repayable in 10 equal monthly instalments of $100 to be repaid by direct debit."

How to get interest free loan - note point details expected repayments

1. Read the prospectus: http://owntheforce.com.au/westernfor..._04Apr2017.pdf

2. Head here to apply: https://westernforce.thereachagency.com/offer/

Note: The minimum and maximum loan amount is $1,000 per applicant which equates to 1 A Class Share

3. You will then receive your Application Receipt by email, this includes your BPAY number


4. Forward the Application Receipt email to info@rugbywa.asn.au and you will be sent the loan application form

5. Complete the Application Form for Loan
Please ensure that you include the email address and phone number used in your application and the BPAY reference number

6. Send your completed Application Form for Loan to info@rugbywa.asn.au
Please return this form within 7 days of applying for your A Class Share

7. You will receive confirmation of your Loan Application by email

8. The Loan is repayable in 10 equal monthly installments of $100 to be repaid by direct debit. The first direct debit monthly installment will occur on the 1st of the calendar month after your application is processed and the 1st of the month thereafter.

see youtube clip on frontpage

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Darren

...

Note: The minimum and maximum loan amount is $1,000 per applicant which equates to 1 A Class Share

.....

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This bit is intriguing. Why limit to only 1? I suppose this means for multiple shares, one has to make multiple applications.

It would not look good to have people buying up big at twiggy's expense and defaulting on repayments?
If you can afford more than one (at $100/month/share) you can probably cop the $1000 up front?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Hansie

... We are well short of the $8.0 mill that was pledged.

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Are you referring to those that registered an expression of interest as a pledge? There's a bit of difference, I lodged an expression of interest before the details were finalised, but sadly I don't have $1000 to put down, and even scraping together $100/month won't be easy.

Now I wish I had held off buying my shares when they first were offered. Would be worth double if I bought them now.

Please support the cause. You still have to repay the loan but now you have some time and it's worth more to the future of the Force.