Rugby league legends, including NSW Blues coach Laurie Daley and former Manly great Ronny Gibbs gathered at NSW Parliament House in Sydney tonight (Wednesday) to help raise further funds for the 2015 Indigenous Young Achievers Tour of France and Italy next month.
The pair were also joined by former NRL player Beau Champion and ARL Indigenous Council Chair, Deputy Opposition Leader and Shadow Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, The Hon. Linda Burney MP, in support of this fantastic initiative.
"The NSWRL’s Young Achievers Tour will change the lives of all involved. The tour plan sees participants visit some of the most historically significant parts of Europe, locations particularly significant to Indigenous Australians,” NSW Blues coach Laurie Daley said.
“The trip will have a tremendous impact on those young men both on and off the field. I wish them the best of luck and the time of their lives."
The NSWRL’s Young Achievers tour, from November 8-28, takes non-elite players from across NSW, from places as small and remote as Bourke and Collarenebri, to some of the most historical sites in Europe, including battlefields of the Somme, focusing on the Indigenous involvement in the World Wars.
The touring party will also attend a reception at the Australian Embassy in Paris and be guests of the Mayor of Villers-Bretonneux for the laying of the wreaths on Armistice Day.
"This is going to be a tour of a lifetime for these young men. They’ll be young men when they go away; they’ll be great young men when they come back,” said Ms Burney.
“Many of them had never been to Sydney before and most of them have never been overseas. The wonderful thing about this trip is that they are not only going over to have a great time playing football but also visit places that are important to our story, the story of reconciliation. It’s very special."
If you would like to support the 2015 Indigenous Young Achievers Tour, contact Steve Hall, NSWRL Indigenous Rugby League Development Officer, on (02) 9359 8500 or via info@nswrl.com.au
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New South Wales Rugby League respects and honours the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on.
