1. Brewarrina NewsTHURSDAY JULY 5 2012 NEWS 12
www.breshire.com news@brewarrina.nsw.gov.au Tel: 6830 51, 0448 392 102
Sport
Star comes bushA visit to the Barwon Darling region
in mid-June was simply another
extension of what former National
Rugby League star Rhys Wesser now
does for a living in three separate
community-based roles.
Wesser is an Indigenous program
co-ordinator for Souths Cares and
the tackling tobacco and healthy life-
style worker at the National Centre
of Indigenous Excellence (NCIE) in
Redfern.
He is also an ambassador for the NRL
One Community program and has
been across Queensland,NSW and
even to Fiji in 2012 before his recent
journey to Goodooga and Collarene-
bri.
Wesser attended clinics at Goodooga
CentralSchool and a Goodooga
Rugby League Club fundraiser on
June 15 before being specialguest at
a gala day between Barwon Darling
clubs Collarenebriand Walgett at
Collarenebrithe next day.
The man who played 218 NRL
matches, four State of Origins for
Queensland and won a premiership
with Penrith (2003) was humble and
fun during his visit to NSW’s north-
west.
You could tell this trip for the NRL
wasn’t just work to Wesser as he
mixed easily with locals and was
interested in what they had tosay.
“It was a great experience,” Wesser
said.
“A town like Goodooga, not many
people get out there and they don’t
see a lot of former (NRL) players.
“To spend some time with the kids
and send them positive messages is
rewarding. It’s an awesome thing to
do.”
While Walgett won the main game
, Wesser enjoyed the big day70-14
of football at ‘Colly’ where under 8s,
s, 12s, 14s and 17s had a run.10
“It shows that Country Rugby League
is alive and kicking,” he said.
“There certainly is a lot of passion, I
witnessed that.It was quite a tough
game.
“It was great to meet the people
in Collarenebri... the people were
friendly and the kids were great.
“Country kids are willing to have a
chat and listen. They are well man-
nered.
“I can’t wait to get back out here
again.
In his position at Souths Cares,the
former Rabbitoh helps find pathways
to employment for Indigenous Year
11 and 12 students at five inner-
Sydney schools.
“It’s something I’m passionate about,
doing community work,” Wesser said.
“It’s my way of putting back into the
game. It’s great South Sydney has
taken me on.”
Still fit at 33 and almost a year into
retirement, Wesser also promotes
good lifestyle choices at the NCIE.