KIDS GET IN GAME
Southern Cross Catholic College rugby league students Ethan Hunter and Brock Pringle with the Bishop Michael Putney Shield.
Picture: SHAE BEPLATE
SOUTHERN Cross Catholic
College will once again host the Queensland Mental Health Week 9s Carnival this week to mark Mental Health Month.
The week-long awareness and fundraising event kicked off yesterday with former NRL and New Zealand international Clinton Toopi delivering the NRL State of Mind “Get in the GAME” mental health and wellbeing program.
The online seminar has been shared with all schools involved in the carnival and is designed for students 13-17 years of age, helping to increase their ability to identify mental health difficulties and support others.
During the school lunch break on Friday, Southern Cross will officially launch the Queensland Mental Health Week 9s Carnival with the inaugural Gotcha4life Grade of Origin.
The Gotcha4life Foundation is a not-for-profit foundation that targets educational workshops, training programs and products to build mental fitness.
The Gotcha4life Cup will see the Southern Cross Young Guns (Year 10/11) take on the might of the Old Boys (Year 12) in what will become an annual match to see off their departing Year 12 students and remind them that Southern Cross will never forget them.
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At 3pm on Friday, the second annual Queensland Mental Health Week 9s Carnival will kick-off, with Southern Cross once again hosting nine other QISSRL Confraternity schools, raising awareness and tearing down the stigma of mental health within our students.
The school’s Annan Whittington said sport was a wonderful engagement tool.
“Students are making positive connections with teammates and students from other schools, building resilience and getting a high level of physical exercise, which all leads to a positive mindset,” he said.
“I believe we can utilise sport and an active lifestyle to drive change and promote wellbeing and speaking up with the students at Southern Cross and throughout the whole region.
“Since the organisation for the carnival started, our Rugby League Academy has been supporting it from Year 7 through to 12, for some even breaking down the barriers to discuss their own wellbeing and struggles.”
The carnival will once again be fundraising for the local mental health charity, the Bishop Michael Putney Fellowship and the crowning of the 9s champions will once again receive the shield named after the late bishop.