Smiles worth 10 goals
27 February 2006
Herald Sun
David Hastie
THERE is more to life than football. That is what the Richmond Football Club will tell you.
In the past 12 months the club has focused its attention on helping those less fortunate through the Tigers in Community program.
The program involves visits to the Royal Children's Hospital, North Richmond housing estate, St Mary's House of Welcome for the homeless and Collingwood estate, and ongoing support of the Very Special Kids charity.
Richmond coach Terry Wallace said despite the demanding schedule on modern footballers it was important to make time to give something back to the community.
"When the club changed personnel 12 months ago . . . one of the things we were very keen on doing was just regaining links with the community," Wallace said.
"Professionalism was changing in the game but we sort of thought it didn't need to change to such an extent that you lose ground on what is happening out in the community."
Despite early apprehension, the players have embraced the program.
"Initially it was probably, 'Here we go, what do we have to do this for?'," Wallace said.
"But as soon as they go along and get involved, all of a sudden they see the smiles on a few people's faces and they realise how much impact they can have."
Wallace said the program was a great leveller for his players.
"Most of these boys have been adulated almost since the age of 10 or 12," he said.
"It can be a fairly surreal world at times so just to get out there and see what others are doing, I think sometimes gives them a bit more appreciation."
Richmond was in the headlines for all the right reasons for its support of little Tyler Fishlock.
Tyler, 3, had his remaining eye removed two weeks ago after it was destroyed by the rare, aggressive, cancer, retinoblastoma.
But it is the club's work behind the scenes that the coach is most proud of. "Tyler's one is a very public story," Wallace said.
"It is very simple or easy to think that you do that and it's all very nice because it's out in the public eye.
"But it's the stuff behind the scenes that you don't necessarily need any credit for, you are also doing for all the right reasons.
"The credit is just seeing a smile on some kids' faces or helping out people who are less fortunate."
Tigers and community promotions coordinator Rita Catania said the program helped the players as well.
"It's about self growth and personal development for the guys," Catania said. "But most importantly Richmond is more active in the community."
http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,18284199%255E19771,00.html
