Colours galore as Cobram and Barooga host annual Rainbow Day

By Bransen Gibson

Jun 13, 2023

Zaidee’s cup: Barooga and Cobram netballers with Allan Turner as part of the annual Rainbow Day celebrations to raise awareness for organ and tissue donations and Zaidee’s Rainbow Foundation. Photo: Zaidee’s Rainbow Foundation

There was colour everywhere as Cobram and Barooga football netball clubs teamed up to host their seventh annual awareness day for Zaidee's Rainbow Foundation at the weekend.

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More than 380 junior and senior players from both clubs wore the Zaidee Foundation’s famous rainbow shoelaces, with the under-17 netballers and footballers competing for the Zaidee cups.

It was the Tigers who claimed both pieces of silverware, defeating their cross-river rivals Barooga 50-27 in the netball and 103-14 in the football on Saturday afternoon.

The annual event aims to raise funds for Zaidee's Rainbow Foundation and awareness about the importance of organ and tissue donation.

United: Cobram and Barooga under-17 footballers, coaches and officials with the Zaidee Cup. Photo: Zaidee’s Rainbow Foundation

The foundation is named in honour of Zaidee Rose Alexander Turner, who died suddenly at the age of seven in 2004.

Zaidee donated her organs and tissue, which went on to save and improve the lives of seven others.

Zaidee’s father, Allan, was at Scott Oval in Cobram on Saturday to take part in the event and talk with players and parents.

“It's purely a simple education awareness day that people start talking about organ tissue donation,” he said.

“Zaidee is buried at the Cobham cemetery and we really appreciate the support of both the clubs Cobram and Barooga. They get behind the foundation and support it every year.”

Allan shared the story of Zaidee’s passing and how her actions inspired him and his wife, Kim, to launch the foundation.

“Back in 2004, Zaidee died suddenly from a brain aneurysm, a burst blood vessel in the brain,“ he said.

“She was rushed from Shepparton to the Royal Children's Hospital for emergency surgery, but unfortunately, it was nothing they could do.

“At the time my wife turned around to the staff and said, by the way, we're an organ and tissue donor family, and as per our wishes and the wishes of our daughter, she's going to donate her organs and tissues. And she did.

“She was the only child that year to be an organ and tissue donor in Victoria under the age of 16 and only one of six children nationally.“

Winners: Allan Turner with Cobram's under-17s netballers and the Zaidee Cup after the Tigers defeated Barooga 50-27. Photo: Zaidee’s Rainbow Foundation

Having seen the event grow over the years, Allan said it was always a special occasion.

“Every year we get up there and it's a fantastic day, the clubs and the players get right behind it,” he said.

“A lot of people get into the theme of what the Rainbow Day is about. We talk to the players before the game and tell them the story and thank them.

“It's pretty emotional, but it's also well supported when it comes to them wanting to think and talk about what organ tissue donation is all about.

“Every year we get new players coming into the team so we're educating more people every year from the juniors all the way up.

“I think it's one of those games that as an under-14 kid, they can't wait too late to start playing under-17s so they can play for the cup. One of the girls on the weekend at the netball said ‘I've been waiting for this game all year’.

“It is well supported when it comes to the conversation and the memory of our daughter, Zaidee.”