A group of youngsters from KARI Aboriginal Resources enjoyed a couple of days by the sea, learning the finer points of surfing at a clinic funded by the Sharks as a part of the clubs ongoing relationship with the organisation.
The kids were treated to four-days of surfing and water safety lessons conducted by Cronulla Surf Academy at both Wanda and South Cronulla beaches, with Sharks Daniel Holdsworth and Sam Tagataese dropping by on the final day of the clinic to lend a helping hand.
While Holdsworth is a keen surfer and was only too happy to pass on his knowledge in the water, back on the beach the Kari youngsters insisted on a game of touch footy on the sand up against the two Sharks stars before getting back to their surfing instruction.
The clinics went for two hours on each of the four days, with the kids treated to lunch at Sharkies Leagues Club on both Monday and Thursday.
Tagataese and Holdsworth were keen to assist on the day, with both currently studying for their Certificate 4 in Youth Work.
KARI was established as a not-for-profit community organisation based in Sydney's South West with a vision to become a quality Aboriginal service provider to Aboriginal communities. The initial KARI program began back in 1999 with the recruiting and training of Aboriginal foster carers and a shared-care approach for Aboriginal children and young people requiring out of home care. The organisation has since grown significantly in program delivery and service operation and is now recognised as being the largest accredited Aboriginal Children's Service in NSW.
In continuing the partnership between KARI and the Sharks, the team at the upcoming Auckland Nines will be competing in a specially designed jersey featuring the KARI logo on the front.
In other Sharks-supported community activities this week a group of NRL squad members attended Shire Live Church at Sutherland on Wednesday for a school holiday footy clinic.
Newcomer Tirinau Arona was joined by Ricky Leutele, Penani Manumalealii, Sione Masima, Sosaia Feki and Tupou Sopoaga at the community event.
The boys cooled off after training by joining the Shire Live youth group in an impromptu water fight, before signing autographs and posters and posing for photos.
Sharks and Shire Live Chaplain Warren Searles arranged the annual event.
