Wellbeing was the key message to young students when some Newcastle Knights dropped into Kurri and surrounds on Wednesday, February 3.
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Players and NRL ambassadors visited Pelaw Main, Kurri, Weston and Abermain Public Schools as part of the NRL’s annual Community Carnival.
2015 Knights Coaches Award winner Dane Gagai made the trip to Pelaw Main, Kurri and Abermain while 2012 Junior Kangaroo Jack Stockwell visited Pelaw Main, Weston and Abermain.
Other Knights players visited Aberdeen and Scone on Wednesday, with Orange, Wellington, Bathurst and Spring Hill on the agenda for February 18, and the Newcastle area later in the month.
Now in its 16th year, the idea behind the 2016 community carnival is for players and ambassadors to travel to regional areas of Australia to educate children and young players on the importance of proper hydration, adequate sleep and developing and supporting a strong sense of belonging.
The program is curriculum linked and endorsed by the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA).
A Newcastle Knights spokesperson said that it is important for children to hear this message at a young age and they seem to take it on board because it comes from someone they may look up to.
Gagai said that as a kid, he stayed up late and didn’t know the importance of wellbeing, so he is glad to be able to send the message to the kids of today.
“Being able to give something back is something I really enjoy doing,” he said.
“It’s not about rugby league at the end of the day; it’s about trying to give them a better understanding [of health and wellbeing].
“If one kid goes away and starts implementing that into his or her lifestyle well then I guess I’m doing my job.”