Twenty Year 7 students had the opportunity to meet their sporting heroes this morning, at an Indigenous All Stars training session ahead of Saturday’s match.
The visit was facilitated by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Healing Foundation, the official partner of the Indigenous All Stars team for the second year running, together with the NRL.
The students attend the Murri School in Acacia Ridge, which is working with the Healing Foundation to increase resilience in its young Indigenous pupils.
Student Shelby Barney, who will also conduct the Coin Toss for the 2012 All Stars match on Saturday night, said it was incredibly exciting to meet this year’s Indigenous All Stars players.
“I was especially excited to meet Jharal Yow Yeh and the Gold Coast players. I’ve been a fan for ages!” Shelby said.
Shelby’s classmate Waynee Knight said the meeting was “A wonderful opportunity to meet my football legends”.
Indigenous All Stars flyer Jharal Yow Yeh said: “You see how excited these kids are and it reminds you just how important something like All Stars week is.
“This match is all about inspiring kids to go out and achieve their dreams and it’s great to see the Healing Foundation being part of that through the work they do addressing the effects of trauma through culturally strong healing programs.”
The Healing Foundation was established on the first anniversary of the Apology to the Stolen Generations. It supports culturally strong, locally run Indigenous healing programs around Australia, and funds education and research on Indigenous healing. More information is available at www.healingfoundation.org.au