Rabbitohs and NASCA form new alliance

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Press Release

Rabbitohs and NASCA form new alliance

by (Press Release) [source: www.souths.com.au] on Wednesday 9 Aug 2006 15:27

The South Sydney Football Club and the National Aboriginal Sports Corporation of Australia (NASCA) have entered into an alliance today, supporting each other in indigenous community programs.

The Rabbitohs, through the 'Souths Cares' initiative, have undertaken to support NASCA by providing athletes and resources to work within community development programs across the South Sydney area and other identified communities across the country, to provide strategic advice and support to NASCA, and to work in collaboration with NASCA and its strategic partners.

NASCA have committed to providing an adequate level of staffing and resources to achieve the mutually agreed objectives, to work in collaboration with South Sydney Football Club and its players, sponsors and strategic partners, to strategically align services and programs to support this partnership, and to develop and implement innovative community driven programs to assist young people through sport to enhance their education and health outcomes.

This partnership is the next chapter in a long history of involvement between the Rabbitohs and the indigenous community.

Rabbitohs Executive Chairman Peter Holmes a Court says: "Souths strongly supports athletes as role models, regardless of race, but with particular focus on assisting communities with a high percentage of indigenous people.

"The Alliance with NASCA will give us rigour for our programs in the community in South Sydney and ensure we are using the experience of NASCA programs through our growing 'Souths Cares' Initiative.

"Souths has a long history of indigenous players, including the current crop of stars such as David Peachey and the NRL's leading try scorer Nathan Merritt to name just a couple. Next year Dean Widders, member of the National Indigenous Council, joins the club from Parramatta and will work to strengthen this initiative and lead as a role model for other NRL players and the youth of Australia alike."

Paul Conlon, General Manager of NASCA, says: "We are excited to be partnering with the Rabbitohs in this initiative, as it is an opportunity for us to strengthen our 'Athletes as Role Models' program, and the alliance with the South Sydney Rabbitohs will bring a new level of commitment to our programs in this area.

"Since its inception in 1996, NASCA has delivered a range of sports programs to disadvantaged Aboriginal communities across Australia. Through these programs, we encourage Aboriginal youth to stay in school, learn about healthy lifestyles and develop their sporting prowess.

"The partnership announced today between NASCA and the South Sydney Football Club provides an amazing opportunity for the youth of the South Sydney area. It also provides a great vehicle for both NASCA and Souths to engage the community in a very meaningful way.

"The youth of South Sydney will as a result of this partnership gain access to a wide range of programs and activities aimed at assisting them to complete their education and influence them to make positive life choices. The program will also provide support and assistance to other programs already being conducted within the community by providing access to Souths players to serve as role models, teachers and mentors. The Souths players involved in the program will gain very valuable skills and experience that will develop them as rounded individuals and create opportunities for their post football careers.

"This partnership will assist Souths to build and develop its renewed club culture under its 'Souths Cares' program.

"This is a great approach that provides a structure for players to engage within their communities. Many Rugby League players across the NRL, and in particular South Sydney, are already involved in some amazing programs delivering outstanding results within a range of communities. The Souths Cares program and partnership with NASCA will further assist these players in their efforts but also provide a structure maximising the outcomes delivered and engage all players within the club.

"The partnership programs will target all youth and young people within the area; all programs will be fully inclusive and focused on sustainable outcomes.

"Both NASCA and Souths bring to the partnership high levels of credibility, with NASCA a proven delivery agent within the Aboriginal community, and Souths a long standing iconic Rugby League Club with a strong history in providing opportunity to Aboriginal youth."

The History of the Rabbitohs and the Indigenous Community - By Ian Heads

The link that exists between South Sydney Rugby League Club - the famous Rabbitohs ? The Pride of the League - and the Aboriginal community of the district goes back so far it is almost lost in the mists of time.

It has been a wonderful and mutually beneficial partnership through 76 seasons ?and maybe longer. Over the years the club has been, season by season, a provider of opportunity for young Aboriginal players ?and in turn the ranks of the countless talented indigenous players who have answered the call have been a continual boost to the red and green cause, adding verve and excitement to the playing style of the Rabbitohs. The stories of champion Aboriginal players are dotted through the history of the club.

The beginning of one of the great symbiotic relationships of rugby league came, perhaps, in 1930 ? the season when the Redfern All Blacks Club was formed. The records and stories of that club tell of enthusiastic and fruitful recruitment in rural district in early years ? and especially in such places as Kempsey, Walgett and south Queensland. Legendary names dot the ranks ?the likes of Ambrose Morgan and Tony and Mick Mundine. It is a story dotted with many trophies and much success, the club has been a small but vitally important nursery for Souths over the years.

The tradition of Aboriginal players donning the famous red and green jumper and heading into battle in the name of South Sydney can be traced back to that club. In seasons 1938-39 a full back named Dick Johnson, who came from the small town of Currabubula was, very likely the first Aboriginal to play first grade with Souths ? and a genuine star of his time, good enough to play for NSW in both of his seasons with the club.

Since the 1950s when men such as Charlie Donovan and then Eric Robinson played with distinction at Redfern, Souths have probably never been without Aboriginal players through the grades.

Champions have emerged?and players of character and rare talent have been dotted the ranks.

The list goes on:

Johnson, Donovan, Robinson, Eric Ferguson, David Grant, the Longbottoms, Graham Lyons, Tom Moylan, Les Biles, Buddy Kain, Tom Moylan, Darrell Trindall, Brad Webb, Claude Williams, Paul Roberts, Owen Craigie?all the way to today's bearers of the flag such as Nathan Merritt, Buddy Gordon and Joe Williams?

There would be little (probably no!) dispute that the champion and dux of such a class would have to be the peerless goal kicker and full back Eric Simms (1965-75) who moved with his family from Raymond Terrace to La Perouse when he was 14?.. And set about building a legendary rugby league career. By the time he left Souths in 1976 he had broken countless records ? and accumulated 1841 first grade points for the club. He is remembered as one of the great goal kickers of the game's history - and so proficient was he as a kicker of field goals as well in the late 1960s - that the game's authorities eventually reduced the value of the field goal from two points to one (1971).

There with Simms at Souths in the early days of his career there (1967-69) was one of the great characters ? and most spectacular long-range goal kickers - the game had ever seen - Kevin `Lummy' Longbottom. The sight of the burly Longbottom booting goals from half way or beyond was a marvel of the era.

All the players mentioned here ? and many, many others ? added to the `character' that has made South Sydney club so special down the years. The Souths tradition from the formation days early in the 20th century to play a spectacular 'running game' suited many quick-footed indigenous players perfectly. The sight of Nathan Merritt racing away for yet another try in this brilliant individual year of achievement recalls all of that. Nathan has worked wonders on the wing for the Rabbitohs of 2006. If, as seems likely, he finished at the head of the season's try-scoring list it will be a unique and extraordinary Rugby League feat.

And for Souths, a club heading into a bright new era?the tradition will continue.

Both groups - the Rugby League club and the Aboriginal community of the district - look back with a deep sense of pride on the things achieved through more than 70 years of 'working together'. It is a story of harmony?and opportunity presented and taken?and of wonderful outcomes.

This side of the South Sydney story is one of the great ones of Australian sport ? of different cultures working together seamlessly?as one?and of the sum being even greater than the two parts: i.e. thrilling football in the many years of Souths high achievement.

I am delighted to say the partnership survives and thrives ?.and will as long as men wear the cardinal and myrtle of the most famous Rugby League club of them all.

News sent by: www.souths.com.au