Students from Richmond Hill State School received a special visit this week from North Queensland Toyota Cowboys under-20 players Cyrus Timo-Latu and Braden Uele and Cowboys mascot Bluey.
While the players were visiting the school as part of the Cowboys Adopt-a-School program, sponsored by Stockland Townsville and with the support of Evolution Mining Pajingo Mine, Bluey was a special guest to thank the students and Evolution Mining for their contribution to the club’s Boots for the Bush initiative.
Students from the school have been collecting their used footy boots as part of the Cowboys and Evolution Mining’s innovative recycled boots program and, with two bins of boots collected, were ready to send them off to the remote school they have chosen to assist.
“Boots for the Bush is about getting footy players to donate their boots when they grow out of them so that they can be passed on to other kids in remote areas who may not be able to afford boots or may not be able to easily purchase a pair because of their remote location,” Cowboys NYC player Braden Uele explained.
“The kids at Richmond Hill have gotten right behind the idea and for a small school have delivered an amazing result.
“The boots collected in this round will be sent up to the Northern Peninsula Area State School in Injinoo on Cape York where I know the local kids are going to be over the moon when they receive them.”
Also present to thank the students was HR and Community Manager at Evolution Mining’s Pajingo Mine, Dianne Newell.
“We are so proud of the efforts of the Richmond Hill students and that our sponsorship of their initiative is reaping real rewards, both for the pride and community spirit it is building among the local students and for the real and practical difference it will make for the kids in the Injinoo Aboriginal Community,” Ms Newell said.
Bluey, as always, didn’t have much to say on his visit but thanked the students in his own way – with a run on the field, a few playful tackles and lots of happy hugs.
