NRL COWBOYS HOUSE STUDENTS’ BIG DAY OUT AS LIFE SAVERS
Thirty Indigenous secondary school students from some of Australia’s most remote communities have experienced a day in the life of a surf life saver as part of a special ‘Big Day Out’ on Magnetic Island, made possible by the generous support of SeaLink.
The group of NRL Cowboys House boarders travelled from the mainland to Magnetic Island aboard the SeaLink ferry yesterday and took part in water safety drills and games led by the Arcadian Surf Life Saving Club (ASLSC).
“Some of the students hadn’t been to Magnetic Island or been on a ferry before, so it was wonderful to provide them with that experience and see the smiles on their faces when they were having fun and being active,” SeaLink North Queensland General Manager Darren Spearman said.
“We have a long-standing relationship with Arcadian Surf Life Saving Club and this event recognised the brilliant work they do in the community, and the kids got a fun day, experienced what it’s like to be a surf life saver and then it was finished off with a barbeque by the crew at SeaLink.”
Managed by the Cowboys Community Foundation, NRL Cowboys House provides a home away from home for the young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to attend secondary school in Townsville with wraparound cultural, educational, and career transition programs to support them through high school and on to meaningful employment or further education.
Ranging from grades 7-12, the boarders were put through their paces by some up-and-coming surf life savers.
ASLSC youth and cadet development officer Emily Donoghue said it was rewarding for her team to share their knowledge and skills.
“It was a great day for our cadets and for our youth to network outside of the club, we train together, and we patrol together so to have the NRL Cowboys House kids come along and get involved in something that we love while they’re learning new skills is amazing,” Emily said.
“We covered a lot of our life saving skills like board and tube rescues, sprints, flags, and then did some beach relays at the end. We taught them about being safe around the water and those things they can do in everyday life.
“They picked up on the skills really well, some of those rescues are really hard to do and we even struggle sometimes but they were awesome at it,” she said.
Year 8 student Basil Robertson from Palm Island said he learned how to properly signal for help if he gets in trouble in the water.
“You have to hold your fist up instead of having your fingers out and waving for help,” he said.
“I like enjoying the ferry ride when I go home to Palm, and it’s been fun coming to Magnetic.”
It was Kendra Stacey’s first visit to Magnetic Island; she said it was fun but also challenging.
“It was hard work because I’m not used to the sand, I’m used to mud because I come from The Gulf. It was inspiring and we get to have a good experience for when we come back here in the future,” Kendra said.
Cowboys Community Foundation CEO Fiona Pelling said many House students have familiarity or connection to the ocean both at home and while in boarding.
“We have boarding students from a range of remote communities both inland and coastal, but also through the Torres Strait Islands where connection to the water is an important part of daily life,” she said.
“We’re extremely grateful for the support of SeaLink, this opportunity was not only a fantastic reward and incentive for a great year in boarding, but also a chance to learn skills for life.”
