Through its community arm Sharks Have Heart, the Sharks help, inspire, engage, educate and advance equality by supporting a variety of community programs.
Over the past few months Sharks Have Heart had a significant presence in the Coffs Harbour community in support the Sharks regional game against the Titans, which also took place during the NRL’s Indigenous Round, supported an extremely worthy cause in the fight against Motor Neurone Disease, continued to visit schools locally and interstate, while partnering up with the Australian Defence Force in offering careers advice to young students.
See following the June 2021 newsletter which details the recent efforts and the initiatives and organisations Sharks Have Heart supports.
Sharks and Aramex supporting Clontarf in Coffs Harbour
Senior Sharks NRL stars Wade Graham, Shaun Johnson and Will Chambers joined representatives from Aramex and their local Regional Franchisee at the Orara High School in Coffs Harbour for a special event and presentation to the Clontarf Foundation.
Held in the lead up to the Sharks game against the Titans in Coffs Harbour, the players addressed the students and answered a range of questions, before taking part in the presentation of an Aramex branded trailer, donated to the local Clontarf Foundation who plan to put it to good use at their various activities and camps.
Sharks Media spoke top Aramex CEO Peter Lipinski about the events of the day, as well as to Warwick Jones from the Clontarf Foundation, which is a charitable not-for-profit organisation helping and encouraging young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men to attend school, finish Year 12 and enter employment.
CLICK HERE for more and to see the Sharks Media video presentation.
Zambrero and Sharks bring awareness to ‘One Disease’ during Indigenous round
Sharks jersey partner Zambrero gave up their back of jersey branding to ‘One Disease’ for the round 12 NRL game against the Gold Coast at Coffs Harbour.
An organisation aiming to eliminate the disease crusted scabies, from Australia’s remote Indigenous communities, ‘One Disease’ is a part of the Prince Group portfolio, which also includes Sharks corporate partner Zambrero, and works alongside disease experts and remote communities to eliminate crusted scabies.
The One Disease branding was proudly displayed on the top back of the specially designed Sharks indigenous jersey in looking to bring recognition and awareness to the exceptional work they do.
Rarely seen in mainstream Australia, the remote Indigenous communities of the Northern Territory have the highest reported rate of crusted scabies in the world.
It is a debilitating, highly contagious disease undermining the health of Indigenous Australians and develops from cases of untreated simple scabies, with the mites reproducing at an alarming rate when present on people with lowered immunity.
Through secondary infections, simple scabies and crusted scabies can lead to rheumatic heart fever, heart disease, renal disease, and ultimately, premature death.
One Disease’s focus is on curbing simple scabies through education, advocacy, a media campaign and with some awareness created by the Sharks displaying the organisation’s branding on their jerseys during their regional match in Coffs Harbour.
In support of One Disease the Sharks also hosted a lunch at the Zambrero Restaurant in Coffs Harbour on Friday afternoon, with staff from One Disease and the Galambila Aboriginal Medical Service, including Aboriginal Health Workers, nurses and community service providers invited to attend.
Zambrero CEO Matt Kenny will welcome the special guests, who included Geoffrey ‘Jacko’ Angeles, One Disease’s Health Promotion Officer.
CLICK HERE to read more.
Sharks back the ‘Big Freeze’
It came during a week where the weather matched the name of a very significant fundraising campaign, with the Sharks showing their support for the ‘Big Freeze’, an initiative aligned with FightMND and aims to raise funds to invest in research to find effective treatments, and ultimately a cure for Motor Neurone Disease.
The extended Sharks ‘family’ have been affected in recent years, with two former players losing their brave fight against the disease, which explained the NRL squad donning the special blue beanie at a training session early on the Thursday morning during their round 13 Bye week.
Sadly, the Sharks lost two of their former players from the 1990’s, Paul Fisher and Adam Maher to MND, with the pair passing away in the early months of 2020. Fisher was just 51, Maher 47 at the time of their passing.
Hence the Sharks continued support of the FightMND campaign, with Co-founder and Patron Neale Daniher, a prominent former AFL player and coach, launching the seventh version of the famous blue beanie, emblazoned with his ‘Play On’ mantra.
The V.I.B. (Very Important Beanie) was about emphasising what the Big Freeze actually represents, which is more than something to keep heads warm, rather they are a crucial contributor to raising funds to find treatment, and one day a cure for Motor Neurone Disease. Everyone who bought or buys a beanie is making a tangible difference. Go to the FightMND website at www.fightmnd.org.au to donate or to find out more.
For more on the Big Freeze and the Sharks support of the important initiative, CLICK HERE
Sharks stars looking to inspire
The Sharks took time out from their Sunshine Coast training camp during the week leading into the NRL’s Magic Round to visit a couple of north Brisbane Schools and to deliver the NRL's League Stars Inspire Program
Sharks NRL squad members Will Chambers, Ronaldo Mulitalo, Braydon Trindall, Teig Wilton and Billy Magoulias dropped by the St Eugene College and Narangba Valley State Schools.
See our photo gallery from the two school visits – CLICK HERE https://www.sharks.com.au/news/2021/05/13/sharks-visit-qld-schools/
Partnering up with the ADF
The Sharks partnered up with the Australian Defence Force (ADF) during May in hosting a careers information day for local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.
Held at PointsBet Stadium, the Sharks and the ADF came together to offer careers advice while also giving the students from the NRL’s School to Work program a training experience where they had the opportunity to watch the Sharks NRL squad go through their paces.
In addition to watching the NRL team in action, the youngsters toured the stadium including the dressing rooms and gym, joined the Sharks players at lunch, then heard from ADF staff about their experiences and information as to the defence force careers available.
Over 30 students attended, hearing directly from those who have experienced the ADF and the amazing opportunities on offer in a wide range of occupations.
The Sharks are proud to partner with the ADF and also the NRL’s School to Work program, with this initiative aligning with the Sharks Have Heart pillar of Diversity and the Club’s commitment to its current Reconciliation Action Plan.
CLICK HERE to for more information and to see some photos from the day.
Sharks Have Heart thank Woolooware Bay for their ongoing support which allows us to deliver our Sharks Have Heart community programs and initiatives.
