Sharks Have Heart Newsletter – May 2019

Welcome to our May 2019 edition of the Sharks Have Heart monthly newsletter.

This month we document the Sharks Cultural Awareness Day an event which took place during National Reconciliation Week, an Australian Defence Force careers advice initiative, while NRL star Josh Dugan trimmed his famous ‘mullet’ for a good cause. Sharks Have Heart were also on hand at the Relay for Life, where $480,000 was raised for cancer research. And a special group of ‘little Crocs’ enjoyed a day at PointsBet Stadium. Read on as we keep everyone up to date with all the most recent Sharks Have Heart happenings.

Cultural Awareness Day at Sharks
Former Shark Preston Campbell addressed the players, staff and visiting students, Aunty Deanna Schreiber spoke of the special jersey in which the Sharks would play in on the weekend and the Glen Dance Group entertained the crowd at a special indigenous cultural awareness session held during National Reconciliation Week and the NRL’s Indigenous round.

Deadly Choices staff were also in attendance in support of the Sharks efforts within the Indigenous space, with a group of some 20 School to Work students painting footballs to be given out at a Sharks home game during NAIDOC Week.

The Sharks wore their indigenous jerseys in the game against the Dragons in round 11 and will have another opportunity to play in the specially-designed jerseys when back at home against the Broncos in early July.

The Sharks involvement and support of National Reconciliation Week and the NRL Indigenous Round aligned with the Club’s new ‘Innovate’ Reconciliation Action Plan which launched earlier year.

To read more and to see a video presentation from the day, go the Sharks website link – CLICK HERE 

ADF team up with the Sharks
The Sharks partnered with the Australian Defence Force in offering 20 School to Work students a careers seminar and a behind the scenes Sharks experience.

The students, who are currently in the NRL and Federal Government funded School to Work program, took in the ADF seminar which looks to engage local indigenous students and to provide them with information around the defence force career opportunities available.

The Sharks worked closely with the ADF staff on the day, which included a behind the scenes tour of the Club’s facilities, a player meet and greet at an NRL training session and a chance to mingle with and have lunch alongside the Sharks NRL playing group.

A program which commenced in 2012 and utilises the positive profile of rugby league, School to Work looks to support and encourage young Indigenous Australians to complete high school and move into work or further education.

For more on the Sharks ADF Day and the School to Work program, CLICK HERE to read the website article.

Dugan does it for Bear Cottage
The notorious Josh Dugan ‘mullet’ came off during May with the Sharks star shaving down in the name of charity at a special fundraising event.

Dugan decided to get rid of his nine-month old ‘mullet’ in support of Bear Cottage, an organisation which he holds close to his heart, coming up with the idea of auctioning the hair-cut and donating the proceeds to the northern beaches’ hospice for children.

The result was a clean-cut Dugan and almost $6,000 raised for Bear Cottage, a warm and home-like environment providing respite, support and end-of-life care for children with life-limiting conditions and their families.

Bear Cottage is the only children’s hospice in NSW and one of only three in Australia.

For more about Bear Cottage and the services they provide and to see what prompted Dugan to make this outstanding community contribution, go to the Sharks website article and video. CLICK HERE 

Relay for life
The Sharks were on hand to support the Relay for Life, an annual Sutherland Shire event that raises vital funds for the Cancer Council's research, prevention and support services.

The Sharks registered a team of 12 Leagues Club staff to take part in the event, provided some giveaways for the participants, had the popular Shark Cage passing activation on site, while club mascots Reefy and MC Hammerhead made guest appearances.

The event took place on May 4 and 5 at Don Lucas Reserve near Wanda Beach.

Sharks Have Heart’s attendance continued their support of local community events and initiatives, with over $480,000 raised across the weekend for what is a great cause.

Sharks fun with little Crocs
Aaron Gray and Maddie Studdon joined in on the fun of the Como Crocodiles ‘Tiny Crocs’, a program for kids aged 3-5 and Social Crocs, an inclusive footy skills programme for children with disabilities held at PointsBet Stadium during the month of May.

See our video presentation from the day – CLICK HERE

Sharks Have Heart thank Platinum Partner Capital Bluestone for their continued support of its community initiatives and programs

To support Sharks Have Heart in the delivery and sustainability of their programs and initiatives, donations can be made. CLICK HERE – to help make a difference in the community.