Two days, six primary schools, 1300 students and a junior footy clinic… Souths Cares and Colgate’s Oral Health tour in Mudgee was a huge success as Beau Champion, Kyle Turner and Souths Cares staff spread healthy living messages to primary school students.
Flying into Mudgee, the home of the 2018 Charity Shield, early on Tuesday morning, Souths Cares Ambassador Beau Champion and current player Kyle Turner headed straight to Gulgong Primary School to deliver the first of their five Oral Health presentations.
Students were split into groups to rotate between stations set up by Souths Cares, the NRL, the Poche Centre for Indigenous Health and the local health district.
Learning good Oral Health practices through interactive classes, discussing healthy nutrition and having fun with footy skills classes, the students thoroughly enjoyed their break from the classroom.
“It makes you feel really good,” said Champion.
“You can really see the joy that it brings to their face and how much they really enjoy us coming out to their towns.”
The most recent trip to Mudgee adds to the 26 regions that Souths Cares have delivered their Oral Health program. Students in regions as far and wide as Coffs Harbour, Kempsey, Tamworth, Taree, Foster, Bathurst, Batemans Bay, Moree, Lightening Ridge, Bourke and Dubbo have experienced the program.
‘Champ’ is proud of Souths Cares in reaching kids who don’t normally get the opportunity to interact with NRL player and partake in these types of classes.
“I’m just doing my part, playing my part. This has been going all over NSW now, it’s just great that we can spread the message and it’s great that Souths Cares do these great things for the community because a lot of these kids don’t get the opportunity a lot of kids in Sydney do get,” said Champion.
“It seems to be everywhere that we go there are always some Rabbitohs supporters. It’s fantastic to see that they do support the boys and the Club. I’m pretty sure after this week and heading into February there will be plenty more as well.
Rabbitohs forward Kyle Turner joined the team on tour – helping deliver a junior footy clinic at Glen Willow Regional Sports Complex for local juniors on Tuesday night.
Turner, who himself is a product of rural NSW, found it special to be giving back to the communities that he came from. The current Rabbitohs man likened it to an experience he had as a child when David Peachy came to Coonabarabran.
“The kids have really bought into what we’re saying to them,” said Turner.
“They’ve really enjoyed it – we’ve given them some good messages and a couple of games and prizes, I think they’ve really taken it on board.
“It’s fantastic, growing up as a young kid I had David Peachey come to my school and I still remember the messages he brought to us. To get players of Beau Champions calibre out here, talking to the kids, it’s going to benefit them, it’s going to benefit us. It’s a really great message as well.”
