"Stay happy and you'll be perfectly fine" - Jack Norris

Surf Days Ahead for Indigenous Kids

(Maroubra, NSW – Monday; 22 June 2009): A group of Indigenous children will be given the experience of a lifetime this Wednesday thanks to the No-Way Campaign Foundation and Surfing NSW.

Hailing from Brewarrina, a small town 800 kilometres north-west of Sydney, a group of approximately 20 children will be making the long trip down to Sydney to meet their heroes, whilst learning how to surf with some of Rugby League’s hottest talent’s.

Beginning with a session with the NRL’s One Community, entitled “Eat Well, Play Well, Stay Well”, presented by Rugby League legend Mario Fenech, the kids will be afforded the opportunity to attend South Sydney First Grade Training Session – a dream for many of the disadvantaged youths.

“It will be such a special day for these children,”  said Darren Morton, CEO and founder of the No-Way Campaign Foundation.

One which they will never forget and a great way to reward the kids from the bush.”

Culminating with a surfing lesson with South Sydney superstar John Sutton, the day will be focussed upon  promoting healthy lifestyles and educating positive lifestyle choices amongst the children.

“The health of the kids is not great, as some have poor eating skills and diets high in salt and sugar,” Morton continued.

“Sending these kids healthy lifestyle messages is the main rhetoric of the day. ”

With a different theme for each day of the week during the National Drug Action Week, Wednesday is fittingly entitled “Indigenous People/ Rural Australia”, something which Surfing NSW CEO, Mark Windon is keen to promote.

“It’s going to be a really special afternoon,” Windon said.

“Surfing is a great recreational activity and one of the best workouts for your entire body; combining fun and exercise will be the aim of their session.”

Selected on their school attendance, good conduct around town and on some occasions a break from their sometimes troublesome life, most of the children participating in the day will never have seen the ocean, let alone stand on a board.

“To see their faces and reaction toward the ocean, waves and the surfing lifestyle will be priceless,” he said.

With ASP World Tour competitor Sally Fitzgibbons (Gerroa, NSW) on board as the No-Way Campaign Foundation ambassador, Windon can see the potential for a long and fruitful relationship between the two organisations.

“Hopefully its the beginning of a long association between Surfing NSW and the No-Way Campaign Foundation,” he said.

“It’s such a great initiative and one we’re proud to be involved with.”

An initiative coordinated by the Alcohol and other Drugs Council of Australia (ADCA), and supported by the Department of Health and Ageing, Drug Action Week aims to raise awareness about the full range of issues.

The National Drug Action Week runs from 21-27 June 2009.