A Suitcase Full of Red and Green
In April, South Sydney Rabbitohs staff member Hugh Vermeesch travelled to Fiji on a family holiday, a trip that carried extra meaning from the outset. The journey was a celebration of his mother beating breast cancer and Hugh made sure it would leave a mark well beyond his own family.
Packed into an extra suitcase were 24 Rabbitohs player jerseys, 24 training shorts and a collection of Wahu footballs, all generously donated by the Rabbitohs football department. Alongside those items, Hugh and his family brought over a range of personal donations including toiletries, clothes, handbags, stationery, makeup and shoes bound for the students of Nakauvadra High School and the broader community of Nananu-i-Ra.
Hugh's connection to this part of Fiji stretches back decades. His Grandparents, John and Evie, have owned land on the island of Nananu-i-Ra since 1980, building a holiday house that multiple generations of the family have returned to ever since. It was there that Hugh grew up forging bonds with the local community, including a close friendship with a man named Etika, whom he has known since he was very young and would see once or twice a year on those childhood trips.
His grandparents have always made it a practice to bring donations on every visit, and to ensure any family member or friend using the house does the same. That spirit of giving back has been passed down. "It has been ingrained in me to give back to local communities, wherever you go," Hugh said.
The donation to Nakauvadra High School was made possible through the family's friendship with Mere Singer, a dear Fijian friend who used to babysit Hugh as a child. Mere's son Trevor is currently in Year 11 at the school, which sits in the Rakiraki district on the northern coast of Fiji's main island, serving students from across the region including some from Nananu-i-Ra itself. It was through that connection that the donation found its home.
For many of those students, access to quality clothing, footwear and sporting equipment is simply out of reach. The 24 player jerseys Hugh brought over were no ordinary items — they were the same tapered fit, grip-gel playing jerseys worn by the Rabbitohs squad in NRL competition. When Hugh explained that to the students, who had initially greeted him with a shy reserve, something shifted.
"Once I explained what the jersey is, where it came from and that they had been worn by the Rabbitohs players, you could see the excitement build in their eyes," Hugh recalled.
The School Headmaster was deeply moved, highlighting several students who play rugby league locally and dream of one day making it to the NRL. The donation, he noted, means the school will not need to fundraise for playing jerseys for years to come. For Hugh, that went to the heart of why it all mattered. "It gives these kids a team to support or a dream to follow. This helps them stay focused on their schooling, sport, health and their families."
The most powerful moment of the day, though, was one nobody could have planned. As a gesture of thanks, the students and teachers came together and sang a traditional Fijian church song — their voices ringing out across the school grounds in a performance that left Hugh and his family in tears. "The best part of the day was seeing the smiles on the kids' faces," he said. "It proves that whether you are a Fijian kid in a little village or a newly minted A-grade player, there is pride and joy in pulling on a Rabbitohs jersey."
It was a moment that captured everything the Club stands for - community, connection and the reach of the Red and Green far beyond the football field. "I am so fortunate to work for this great Club that allows me to give back to a community I really care about."
The South Sydney Rabbitohs extend their sincere thanks to Hugh Vermeesch for his generosity.
