STOP BULLYING: Canterbury Bulldogs players David Minute and James Graham talk about bullying at St Patrick’s Primary School yesterday with students Taleah Smith and Darcy Cartwright.
TACKLING bullying head on is something Bulldogs players James Graham and David Minute are passionate about.
The boys have been travelling around the Sunshine Coast and Wide Bay area the past few days to spread the NRL’s anti bullying message.
St Patrick’s Primary school students were excited at the chance to meet the players when they visited the school yesterday.
Both Graham and Minute took the opportunity to give a talk to the students on bullying, offering their own advice on dealing with bullies and sharing a bit of inside information on what it’s like to be professional rugby league players.
Using educational resources developed by the NRL in conjunction with the Australian Catholic University, the players began their talk with an informative video that presented tactics for dealing with bullying.
For Graham, an English International forward and former Super League player, the program provides him with the chance to explore Queensland and parts of Australia he has never been to.
He told the students of his own experiences at school, partiularly how with the help of a classmate he was able to overcome a period of bullying.
“It’s shocking how many children are affected by bullying,” he said, “To be able to get out here and talk to children about our own experiences is really valuable.”
Principal, Kathy Fuller welcomed the visit and the chance to raise awareness of bullying. “The players are heroes in the children’s eyes so it’s good to have the same message we send the children, being delivered by high profile people they look up to,” she said.
The school’s own bullying policy was reflected in the talk given by the players, endorsing prevention and the importance of speaking out.
Mrs Fuller said there were five key concepts involved in the school’s prevention plan: confidence, persistence, organisation, getting along and resilience.
She said the program was all about equipping students with the social skills needed to deal with bullying or difficult social situations.
The students relished the opportunity to ask questions of the players and some were even lucky enough to score an autograph.
The NRL’s Tackle Bullying program coincides with Monday’s campaign launch for the 2014 National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence which is to be held on Friday, March 21, 2014.
This article was written while undertaking work experience at The Gympie Times. The original version of this article can be viewed on the Gympie Times website: http://www.gympietimes.com.au/news/tackling-bullying-head-on-is-something-bulldogs-pl/2174066/
Rebecca Campbell - Reporter 