4 minute read
Taking opportunities
The final word
David Faiumu left New Zealand as a 17-year-old to play rugby league at the Canberra Raiders. He would later player for the North Queensland Cowboys and Huddersfield Giants, in England. During that time, David also had the opportunity to help young people find their way in life. Now he’s lending a helping hand at RGS.
David Faiumu
RGS INDIGENOUS LIAISON OFFICER HEAD OF RUGBY BOARDING SUPERVISOR
“I left New Zealand as a 17-year-old and arrived at the Canberra Raiders. I had no family, had to adapt to shared living and wasn’t at all prepared for what was to come. I had to fend for myself. I had to learn things like setting up bank accounts, getting a driver’s licence, cooking, and learning a new way of life at a professional sporting organisation and in new social setting. I played in the various age groups and state leagues at the Raiders, then moved to Rockhampton for a year where I played with the Capras before going to Townsville for five years with the Cowboys. I then went to England with Huddersfield.
A big part of what the Cowboys do is their work in the communities across North Queensland. Players were assigned to different schools and communities. Most of my community engagements were done in the aboriginal community of Palm Island and also the Cleveland Youth Detention Centre. I’d run rugby league clinics on behalf of the Cowboys and talk about living healthier lifestyles through sport and exercise and would deliver other wellbeing initiatives. This is something, that to this day, the NQ Cowboys do well and something I loved about the club. Most of the kids in Cleveland and on Palm Island were from similar communities and backgrounds that I grew up in New Zealand so it was easy to connect with these young kids. I was away from my home in New Zealand but that kept me in touch with where I came from. Following Townsville, I continued to my career playing in the English Super League for eight years. Again, my club in England adopted strong community values and was heavily involved in community-based initiatives throughout schools and local amateur clubs, hospitals and charities. Again, this is something I’ll always look back on and be proud that I experienced. Post retirement from footy, I continued coaching/development roles in Huddersfield, in New Zealand and now here in Rockhampton, which has put me in good stead to pass some teachings to our Grammar students. Sports has been a great vehicle for me to work with different people, cultures and organisations to learn some incredible lessons in life and now I have the opportunity at RGS to pass on some of the things that I have been fortunate enough to experience. For me, I feel it’s vital that our students understand who they are and where they come from and to be proud of it every day. When you are a part of an institution or sporting code for so long you can lose that identity, or never understand what it means to have your own identity. This is something that I love helping students and players to discover and reinforce. For many of the Indigenous Students at RGS this is a world away from where they come from. This is a big step for them. I just tell them to embrace it and have an open mind. I say you have a wonderful opportunity to come to a great school, make the most of it and enjoy the opportunities that will come your way if you decide to make the most of your time here at RGS.
When I’m in boarding you get your parent hat on. You are always on them about different things, waking up on time, uniforms, have you brushed your teeth, are you ready for Prep, do you have your homework, when’s assessment due, tidy up. It’s like being at home and what I say to my kids. It seems somewhat natural to me. My roles at Grammar vary from helping coaches with skills training on the field, teaching lifts in the gym, creating wellbeing plans for students, organising cultural workshops, communicating, and liaising with administration and teaching staff to sitting in Prep with Boarding students. It can be a challenge to juggle all three roles some days (Indigenous Coordinator, Head of Rugby and Boarding Supervisor), but I get to impact someone’s life every day. I can change or help create someone’s story.”
David Faiumu
