The Herald Sun AFL Premiership 2023 poster celebrates a milestone this weekend, marking 70 years of raising money for children in need.
The poster drawn by Herald Sun award-winning cartoonist Mark Knight has featured the champion team since 1954, raising more than $7.1 million for The Royal Children’s Hospital’s Good Friday Appeal.
Raising funds for the Good Friday Appeal, the two potential Premiership posters were unveiled by Knight on Wednesday at the MCG ahead of Saturday’s AFL Grand Final.
Knight, who marks 15 years of drawing the only poster officially endorsed by the AFL, continues a 70-year-old tradition, started by Herald cartoonist, William Ellis Green.
Over the past seven decades, the posters have raised $7.1 million for the Good Friday Appeal, which supports The Royal Children’s Hospital. More than $4.6 million has been raised over Knight’s 15 years at the helm.
Ellis Green began his career at The Herald in 1946 before retiring 41 years later but continued to pen the Premiership posters until his death in 2008. Knight, an award-winning political cartoonist who has been the Herald Sun’s resident cartoonist since 1987, was unveiled as his successor the following year.
Penny Fowler, chairman of the Good Friday Appeal and the Herald & Weekly Times, said “The Herald Sun is proud to be able to give fans a slice of history every year and to see the ingenuity of Mark’s artwork each season is a thrill.
“We are honoured to have played a part in raising these much-needed funds for so many years and to play a part in the grand final tradition for thousands of Australians.”
Good Friday Appeal executive director Rebecca Cowan said: “After such an exciting year on the field, it’s wonderful to be able to mark this significant milestone with the 70th anniversary of the poster.
“The Royal Children’s Hospital provides care for children from all over Australia and the Herald Sun Premiership poster is a vital part of our year-round fundraising efforts.”
Up to 100 volunteers will be selling the posters for $5 outside the MCG post-match on Grand Final day on Saturday, September 30.
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