With Glen Willow hosting the Dragons V Raiders NRL clash on the weekend, the time was right for the Red V to bring their new educational book to local students.
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St George Illawarra recently launched Dusty and Friends: Game On! in schools across the Dragons' catchment area.
Dusty and Friends was presented to Mudgee Public School by Kezie Apps – the Dragons ambassador, current Jillaroos back-rower and the 2016 Dally M Female Player of the Year. She was also a key player for Australia at the recent Women's Rugby League World Cup
Kezie also works in Dragons Community and travelled to Mudgee where she reads and speaks to school children, as well as runs rugby league clinics.
“The book is about coping with emotion and it’s based on six dragons on the beach playing sport, one scores and another didn’t take it very well which wrecks the game,” she said.
“So it covers how to control those emotions and tips on taking a few deep breaths and walking away from a situation.
“It’s in a format that the kids can really relate to and we go outside and play some games, which is a chance to say ‘we don’t want any angry dragons’.”
Mudgee Public School principal, Alan Kerr, said that the moral of the story resonates with students when it comes from top footy players.
“This is the first time they’ve been to Mudgee Public, it’s a social and emotional resilience program and something that schools are really keen to follow through with,” he said.
“[Footy players] come with a higher degree of street cred, for want of a better term, so they really get the message when it comes from Dragons’ players and support staff.”
More on Dusty and Friends: Game On! at the Dragons website.
