By Kelly Yates
BERWICK’S Madeline Hawley got the opportunity of a lifetime when she ran onto the pitch at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, hand in hand with Socceroos star Mark Schwarzer.
The seven-year-old and her father Stephen travelled to South Africa last week to watch the world’s biggest international football competition after winning tickets to the cup through the McDonald’s player escort program.
Madeline also sang the national anthem alongside the Australian players before the match against Ghana on Saturday 19 June.
Before the trip, Madeline said she was most looking forward to munching on a free McDonald’s lunch while in South Africa.
On her return, she said her favourite part was meeting Mark Schwarzer.
“I also liked going on the safari,” she said.
Madeline, a Grade 2 student at Hillcrest Christian College, said she cheered on the Socceroos when they got the goal.
She said she was “very happy” to win the competition, after submitting an online storybook she made about her friends playing soccer.
Socceroos star Mark Schwarzer prior to the game against Ghana.
