JACQUIE SHANNON MEMORIAL BOWL
Each year – in what is the biggest week on the Silktails calendar, the Kaiviti Silktails RLFC pay tribute to their most loved staff member, our Aunty Jacquie
ABOUT THE BOWL
The Jacquie Shannon Memorial Bowl is an annual match the Kaiviti Silktails play in honour of their late Football Manager Jacquie Shannon, who they lost to a brain aneurysm in 2022.
For the Bowl, the club wear a commemorative strip featuring the club’s logo, and in the week leading up to the game, celebrate the life of their Aunty Jacquie through their ‘Brains and Brawn’ initiative, Golf Day, and Bowl Launch and Lightbox Ceremony.
‘BRAINS & BRAWN’ INITIATIVE
Every year, the Kaiviti Silktails pick a player or staff member that has been successful either on or off the field and we reward them by putting a gym back into their former school to help drive attendance, as part of our ‘Brains and Brawn’ initiative.
This initiative has now seen 10 Gym Installations completed in Fiji and in Sydney at our PCYC Eastern Suburbs training-base.
GOLF DAY
In 2024, the club held their Inaugural Charity Golf Day, to raise money for the Kaiviti Silktails Community Youth Program.
This was held at Denarau Golf & Racquet Club, and was a Sold Out event as sponsors came out to support the club and celebrate our Aunty Jacquie.
JSMB LAUNCH & LIGHT BOX CEREMONY
On the eve of the Jacquie Shannon Memorial Bowl, at our Centre of Excellence, the club – alongside friends, ex-players, staff and Jacquie’s family, launch the Jacquie Shannon Memorial Bowl playing kit and squad.
The club officially launch the bowl by turning on the light box at the front of our Centre of Excellence, lighting Jacquie’s silhouette all over the city of Lautoka.
INAUGURAL JACQUIE SHANNON MEMORIAL BOWL
The Inaugural Jacquie Shannon Memorial Bowl was held in 2023, against the Ryde-Eastwood Hawks in Round 16 of the NSWRL Ron Massey Cup at Churchill Park, Lautoka.
The Silktails pushed hard to get the win for Aunty Jacquie, and came away victorious, winning 28 – 10.
This victory marked the club’s first trophy win.
2024 JACQUIE SHANNON MEMORIAL BOWL
The 2024 – and second Jacquie Shannon Memorial Bowl was played against our NRL Club Partner, the Sydney Roosters – who also worked closely with her, so it was a personal connection that was moving to see two clubs come together to honour her.
The Roosters came away victorious, 8 – 36.
CARRYING ON JACQUIE’S LEGACY
The Silktails began playing the Leagues Clubs Australia Ron Massey Cup in 2020, but in 2024 entered the NSWRL Jersey Flegg Cup as they concentrated on being a development club.
“Some players will remember Jacquie but now with the development focus of the club, the majority of our players didn’t have a first-hand experience with Jacquie” Chairman Petero Civoniceva said.
“That’s why it’s important to carry on her legacy and the impact she had on our sport in Fiji.”
“The care factor Jacquie had for young sports people in Fiji is a major one – that’s one of her best legacies”
“She was so passionate about that and her values aligned themselves so well with our club. She was also a female official in a predominantly all-male football team and she proved that could be the norm for other sports.
“It is integral for us to remember the foundation she helped build for this club.”
– Petero Civoniceva, Chairman of the Kaiviti Silktails RLFC
AUNTY JACQUIE
Jacquie Shannon was the teams inaugural Football Manager appointed in the pre-season of 2019, and later was promoted to club General Manager. Jacquie was the backbone of the club, playing an integral part in the establishment of the Kaiviti Silktails RLFC.
