The North Queensland Toyota Cowboys Try Time! program, sponsored by community partner South32 Cannington mine, was given a boost recently when Cowboys legends Brent Tate and Aaron Payne pitched in to help deliver Try Time! workshops to year 9 students at Shalom Christian College.
Joining Cowboys fullback Hezron Murgha, NYC players Gideon Mosby and Nathan Traill and the team from Youth With A Mission (YWAM), Payne and Tate spoke with students about setting goals and the importance of personal values.
Since June last year, the Cowboys Try Time! team and program partners YWAM have delivered over 300 workshops on the importance of making positive life choices to over 10,000 students across the Townsville and Mount Isa regions.
Over 97% of teachers surveyed have responded that the program is an effective way of improving students’ engagement in school and in life more generally.
The fast-paced, interactive workshops and the Try Time messages about the importance of school are also hitting the mark with students.
When asked, “What things do you think would help young people stay away from drugs”, responses from those attending the Substance Abuse workshop were:
- 60% Staying in school, making a life for themselves,
- 13% Being open and getting support from family and friends when you need it,
- 14% Being active, staying healthy and having good friends,
- 13% Learning more about the effects of different drugs earlier in life.
“Try Time! is such a positive program and the kids at Shalom were great. I’m proud of the Club for the impact that Try Time is clearly having on these kids’ lives and futures,” Brent Tate said.
The Cowboys Try Time! program and it’s positive results within high schools has been nominated for the NRL One Community ‘Community program of the year’ for the 2015 season, with award winners to be announced in October 2015.
