Saving the Reef, one schooner at a time

Footy and the Reef will be coming together at the North Queensland Toyota Cowboys this Sunday, with the XXXX Derby clash against the Titans setting the perfect stage to announce a new three-year research partnership between Cowboys platinum partner, XXXX and the Great Barrier Reef Foundation.

In a further sign of their commitment to the North Queensland region, XXXX’s investment is aiding pioneering research aimed at strengthening corals’ natural ability to survive marine heatwaves and helping them better withstand rising ocean temperatures. With marine heatwaves becoming more frequent and intense, improving coral heat tolerance is considered one of the most important scientific interventions available to help secure the Reef’s future.  

Cowboys fans heading to the Home Opener can contribute to the cause, with XXXX donating $2 from every beer sold at Queensland Country Bank Stadium on Sunday to the Great Barrier Reef Foundation.

Game Day is set to take on a Reef theme for Sunday’s clash, with fans encouraged to visit the Great Barrier Reef Foundation team at Community Corner on the Northern Concourse near Gate A, where the first few lucky fans through the gates can collect a limited-edition Reef bucket hat.

Cowboys fans who get involved on the day will also have the chance to win a prize pack including two tickets to XXXX’s exclusive ‘Scott your Thurst-on’ Bar at the Cowboys Round 4 clash against the Melbourne Storm, while one lucky fan will have the chance to take part in the ‘Race Barry’ activation on-field at halftime.

For Cowboys Chief Commercial and External Affairs Officer, Dean Payne, the support for the Great Barrier Reef Foundation reflects the shared commitment of each of the organisations to the North Queensland region.

“The Reef is central to the identity of our footprint and means so much to our communities, and it’s fantastic one of our platinum partners, XXXX has made such a meaningful contribution to the Great Barrier Reef Foundation,” he said.

“We are extremely proud to celebrate this partnership at our first home game of the year, in front of our passionate North Queensland members and fans.”

The new investment builds on XXXX’s previous three-year partnership with the Foundation, which supported the Lower Burdekin Smart Irrigation Project in North Queensland. The program helped local farmers reduce nutrient runoff into Reef waters, saving millions of litres of water annually and preventing more than one tonne of fertiliser pollution from entering waterways each year. 

“Bringing this announcement to a Cowboys home game is intentional,” said XXXX spokesperson. 

“The Reef belongs to Queenslanders. Celebrating this partnership in Townsville, in front of thousands of passionate fans, shows that protecting the Reef is something we can all get behind.” 

“This is about backing science that can make a real difference. As a Queensland brand, we’re incredibly proud of the Reef. We know how much it means to communities across the state, and we’re committed to being part of the solution.” 

Great Barrier Reef Foundation Managing Director Anna Marsden said the Reef is at a critical moment, but so is the science. 

“We are in a race against time, but we are no longer powerless,” Ms Marsden said. 

“For the first time, we can identify and strengthen the most heat-tolerant corals and scale their deployment onto the Reef. With partners like XXXX backing this work, we can move from research to real-world impact at the speed the Reef now demands.” 

Gates open at 3.45pm for the Home Opener, and fans can still purchase tickets for the clash against the Titans HERE.