Rugby League ‘Bush to Posts’ program — Sydney NRL trip for Lightning Ridge students

At Allianz Stadium l-r: Therese Carroll, Ben McMahon, Sophie Miller, Cooper Breen, Thomas Berkley, Tyler Byrnes, Tilah Ciprian (PCYC), Solomon Seabrook, Lindsay Kennedy (Mission Australia), Cameron Sloan, Harley Myers, Levi McCabe, Jack Miller, Tristan Doolan, Dylan Malouk, Israel Rogers, (Lighting Ridge Central School), Menai Brown, Isabel Malouk, Hayley Webb, and Maddy Drew (PCYC). Photo contributied

On Friday, August 16, a group of keen students from Lightning Ridge Central School set out on weekend adventure to Sydney as part of the ‘Bush to Posts’ program.

Spearheaded by the Central North Police District, this program aims to fulfil the dreams of students from outback NSW, providing them with a unique opportunity to see the Sydney Roosters playing at Allianz Stadium.

The Sydney Roosters faced off against the Parramatta Eels emerging victorious by 38-14 after the Lightning Ridge students.

The highlight of the trip was the chance to attend the Sydney Roosters game at Allianz Stadium as guests of the Roosters, including the children forming a guard of honour for the players to run through.

This experience was a reward for their dedication in and out of the classroom throughout the year.

The trip was part of the Sydney Roosters continued partnership with Central North Police District aimed at supporting youth through the Bush to Posts program by providing guidance to youth in remote outback communities.

In 2020, Sergeant Mark Pitt, Senior Constable Therese Carroll and Detective Inspector Paul Quigg commenced the ‘Bush to Posts’ program to provide youth in remote outback Aboriginal communities a chance to travel to Sydney to watch a live NRL game.

Sergeant Mark Pitt formerly of Brewarrina Police Station, Senior Constable Therese Carroll from Western Region Youth Command and Detective Inspector Quigg formerly at Bourke, commenced the program because many of these kids don’t go to school, but they love Rugby League

The program was sponsored by the Sydney Roosters after Detective Inspector Quigg touched base with the Sydney Roosters Club through club ambassador, Anthony Minichiello, who Detective Inspector Quigg had an association with in as a trainer with the Italian Rugby League team.

Anthony Minichiello and Detective Inspector Quigg came up with the idea of forming a partnership between the Central North Police District and the Sydney Roosters to support youth from remote western region communities.

Det-Inspector Quigg said that the Bush to Posts program was designed to give kids from remote Aboriginal communities an opportunity to go to an NRL game while teaching them the benefits of school attendance and making the right decisions in life.

“These kids often do it tough, and many of them are dealing with a lot of challenges in their home life and in their small outback communities,” Det Inspector Quigg said.

“The program was designed to give the staff involved a chance to mentor these students to build brighter futures and to encourage them to finish high school. […]

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