A grassroots Tasmanian stadium campaigner who rallied 15,000 people in support of the state’s new waterfront venue has revealed he has been battling a brain tumour.
Mark Brown, the driving force behind the ‘Yes AFL Team Yes Stadium’ movement, underwent neurosurgery on Tuesday after being diagnosed with a brain tumour in December.
“I’m feeling much better now that I’m out of ICU and in my own room,” he said on Wednesday evening.
The diagnosis has left Brown facing an $8,000 medical bill on top of his recovery.
Friend Tiana Brown, who met Mark at a concert before co-founding the stadium advocacy group, launched a GoFundMe campaign to ease the financial burden.
“Mark isn’t just a mate – he’s been a leader and driving force behind the YES AFL TEAM / YES STADIUM group, and over the past three years he has poured his heart, time, and energy into supporting the movement and the people of Tasmania,” she said.
“His passion, commitment, and tireless work have meant so much to so many.”
The fundraiser has already topped $11,000.
Brown became a prominent figure in Tasmania’s stadium debate last November when he organised a mass rally on Parliament Lawns in Hobart.
The rally was promoted through the pro-stadium Facebook group which Brown founded, which now has over 23,000 members.
An estimated 15,000 people braved the rain to support the $1.13 billion Macquarie Point stadium proposal, which is central to securing Tasmania’s entry into the AFL with the new Tasmania Devils team.
The rally came just days before the Legislative Council voted on the project, which saw the project approved.
“Mark, from YES STADIUM to the ICU…. We’ve got you!” Tiana Brown said in her fundraising appeal.
She described him as “positive and optimistic” despite the shock diagnosis.
