League great lends a hand

Article from Coffs Coast Advocate

High-profile rugby league player Troy Robinson has been appointed by AFL NSW/ACT to coordinate the PaCE program for indigenous youth in the local area and after barely two weeks in the job has already conducted his first junior camp.

“Everybody knows how much I love working with kids and helping them to be the best they can be,” he said.

“Mate, I’m so enthusiastic about this and reckon I was born for it.

“Already we’ve taken a bunch of kids down to Bateman’s Bay after Uncle Brett (Davis) came on board to lend a hand and you should have seen the faces on those youngsters.

“They just loved it and the parents and families did as well.”

One of the best players produced locally and from a revered indigenous sporting family, Robinson played first grade NRL rugby league with South Sydney Rabbitohs before coming back to home turf to coach Bellinger Valley-Dorrigo Magpies.

He currently plays with Coffs Harbour Comets and is a member of the Group 2 senior representative team.

PaCE program manager John Love is certain Robinson is going to be a fine ambassador for the AFL.

“I am pleased Troy has started and I’m very confident he will do a fantastic job in getting the program up and running immediately,” he said.

“Troy has a passion for working with indigenous youth and families in the Coffs Harbour region.

“He is a proud Gumbainggir man and has had previous experience working in local schools as an indigenous mentor and tutor.

“Also, he has experience in other PaCE projects and will be based in Coffs Harbour, his home town.”

Initially, Robinson will develop contacts through Orara High School but already has a vision to spread the program far and wide.

“Right now I’m hard at work putting together a plan for this semester,” he said.

“What I have in mind is to get as many kids and parents involved as I can and then we’ll have a launch function and really make it something special for the parents.

“Eventually, I’d like to see the program spread as far as the Nambucca and all the places around the local region.”

While the Sydney Swans and GWS Giants are special ambassadors for the program and act as role models for participants, it’s not specifically targeting kids to confine their activities to AFL football.

Working in support with the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, the AFL has introduced the program to better support indigenous parents and communities to participate in educational decision-making activities, developing partnerships with education providers and improving educational outcomes for children.

The term ‘PaCE’ stands for parental and community engagement through education, sport and cultural activities, during and after school and on weekends.

Students and parents participate together in fun activities to develop life skills and a greater understanding of culture.

Orara High is one of just five centres around the state where the program is offered.

Northern NSW regional manager for AFL NSW/ACT, Mark Heaney said the appointment of Robinson will be widely welcomed.

“Robbo has a huge profile, has enormous respect and after knowing him for so long he’s just a lovely bloke,” he said.

“Having him come on board is obviously a major thing for us and I wish him all the best.

“There’s no question he will do a fantastic job.”

With word spreading about the appointment, the president of one of Robinson’s former Group 2 clubs has warned that rugby league is being left behind.

“We should have been making appointments like this years ago,” he said.

“Robbo is the right bloke for the job and our sport should be leading, connecting with the community in ways other than football alone and we continually fail to do that.”