Wests Tigers annual Community Carnival reached new ground in 2020 with the extended NRL squad visiting over 16,000 students throughout the South West Sydney area.
Spreading the NRL Respect message, the entire 2020 playing squad visited schools right throughout the Liverpool, Campbelltown, Camden, Mittagong and Tallong regions — visiting over 65 schools and 16,000 students in the process.
The club's largest community visit to the South West region in a single day, the schools visited also included a number of communities and students directly affected by the devastating bushfire crisis earlier this year.
Co-captain Benji Marshall and local junior Luke Brooks visited a number of schools and regions affected by the fires — presenting them with signed jerseys to assist in raising money for the local community — as well as spending time running interactive games and activities as part of the Respect message.
The Respect program on three main components of learning and demonstrating respect amongst primary schools students — respecting oneself, respecting others, and what it means to develop and maintain respectful relationships.
In addition to the interactive programs, players also ran a number of league stars introduction clinics to give students a taste of rugby league at a young age.
Wests Tigers winger David Nofoaluma attended Ruse Public as a youngster (one of the schools visited by the squad) and spoke of the importance of the day in getting out to schools and students in the South West Sydney regions.
“It’s always such an awesome day when we get to get out and visit all the schools in our area," Nofoaluma said. "I grew up here in Campbelltown and it’s been cool to see the area grow lots and also see heaps of Wests Tigers fans at the same time.
"We got to share the NRL Respect message, which is all about respecting others and yourself in what you say and do.
"It’s definitely a good thing for us to be out sharing it — we’re able to use lots of games and activities to do it and I think that it’s something that the kids will remember. I remember when I was in school and people would come to visit the school so it’s awesome when we can do the same.”
Wests Tigers would like to thank the following schools for their support and for having the players along to spread the NRL Respect message:
- Tallong Public School
- Exeter Public School
- Bundanoon Public School
- St. Paul's Moss Vale
- Spring Farm Public School
- Mount Hunter Public School
- Mawarra Public School
- Oakdale Public School
- Oran Park Public School
- Holy Family Luddenham
- Bringelly Public School
- St. Justin's College Oran Park
- Oran Park Anglican College
- Wilton Public School
- St. Michael's Mittagong
- Hill Top Public School
- Tahmoor Public School
- Sackville Street Public School
- Macarthur Adventist
- Briar Road Public School
- St. Helens Park
- Miller Public School
- Middleton Grange Public School
- Campbelltown North Public School
- Ambarvale Public School
- Eschol Park Public School
- Mary Immaculate (Eagle Vale)
- Blairmount Public School
- Ingleburn Public School
- Holy Family Ingleburn
- Guise Public School
- Sarah Redfern Public School
- The Grange Public School
- Macquarie Fields Public School
- Curran Public School
- Bradbury Public School
- Rosemeadow Public School
- Currans Hill Public School
- Claymore Public School
- St. Gregory's Primary School
- Elderslie Public School
- Ruse Public School
- Camden South Public School
- Preston's Public School
- Glenfield Public School
- St. Tharase Catholic College
- Ashcroft Public School
- Dalmeny Public School
- Liverpool Public School
- Lurnea Public School
- Warwick Farm Public School
- Heckenberg Public School
- Casula Public School
- Sadlier Public School
- Bellfield College
- Leppington Public School
- Kemps Creek Public School
- St. Catherina of Sienna
- Hinchinbrook Public School
- Green Valley Public School
- Austral Public School
