A generous act of grassroots gallantry in 1994 has led to the marriage of two North Queensland brands, with the announcement that Vantage BMS is taking up the coveted spot on the lower back of the North Queensland Toyota Cowboys’ playing jersey.
The official partnership cements a relationship spanning 25 years, when Vantage BMS voluntarily pitched in to help ready the playing field at the Cowboys’ inaugural home ground and helped form the Burdekin Bushrangers corporate area.
Vantage BMS secured their position on the jersey for the 2019 and 2020 seasons, in time to see their brand showcased at the season-opening match this Saturday when the Cowboys take on the Dragons at 1300SMILES Stadium.
Cowboys CEO Jeff Reibel said this is a fantastic story about local people supporting their local team.
“Even before our club was born, Vantage BMS co-founders Lew Brandon and Kevin Muspratt were helping us to get the playing field and spectator hills ready and were one of a number of North Queenslanders who gave up their time to make sure that the club could start,” Mr Reibel said.
“They supported us when we started our club and then took that a step further and have been administering and supporting the Burdekin Bushrangers, our first ever corporate area which formed in 1995.”
“For them to choose us to be their marketing vehicle for their new Vantage BMS brand is something that we’re really proud of.”
Vantage BMS co-founder Lew Brandon recounts contributing to “working the hill and field.”
“A team of local Burdekin farmers and ag contractors donated their machinery and time to assist with the construction of the field and the hill and that led to forming the Burdekin Bushrangers which is still going today.”
“We’ve been proud supporters of the Cowboys for all of those years, and this represents us going to another level with that support,” Mr Brandon said.
After starting operations in 1979 from Ayr, home-grown Vantage BMS are now a nationwide business offering advanced technological solutions to agriculture customers, civil contractors, builders and miners.
“My business partner, the late Kevin Muspratt, and I had always been very passionate supporters of rugby league, particularly in the North Queensland region, and then of the North Queensland Cowboys when they formed,” Mr Brandon said.
“We’re thrilled to be associated with the Cowboys and I think we have a lot of similar values.”
The brand position will enable Vantage BMS to reach some of the most engaged members and fans in the NRL through national TV, digital platforms, home games and corporate member networks.
