Rabbitohs players set to wear a piece of the Clarence Valley

Two Bundjalung youth have put the finishing touches to their custom-designed footy boots, all in the name of mental health.

Young Bundjalung men Tyreece Daley and Lennox Monaghan with Aboriginal artist Alan McKenzie. Photo: Bianca Monaghan

Two Clarence Valley students will soon get to see their designs worn by South Sydney Rabbitohs players.

On Thursday, proud Bundjalung boys Lennox Monaghan and Tyreece Daley put the finishing touches to their custom-designed footy boots as part of the Rising Warriors program, a combined initiative from artist Alan McKenzie, Bundjalung Baygal Warriors RLFC, and Mudyala Aboriginal Corporation.

Organiser Levi Caldwell said following on from last year, the footy boots initiative had taken off.

“Last time we designed six pairs of boots for the Rabbitohs, this year we’ve got 23 pairs which is just fantastic,” he said.

Lennox Monaghan works on his custom-designed footy boots which will be worn by a South Sydney Rabbitohs player. Photo: Bianca Monaghan

“With Lennox and Tyreece here to help, these kids are able to help us deliver such an important message to their age group.”

After creating their own rugby league club in 2013 with a few of the Walker brothers from Casino, Mr Caldwell said that they wanted to do more for the community than just kick around a footy.

“We reached out, had a yarn and realised that mental health in the community was bad,” he said.

“The suicide rate was high and there was pretty much no awareness for indigenous kids to simply put their hand up and ask for help.”

After securing a funding grant, the Rising Warriors program was born, using rugby league as the foundation to connect Indigenous youth with positive mental health strategies.

“Nobody wants to talk about it when they’re struggling and we needed to change that,” Mr Caldwell said.

“We know the Indigenous community love their sport almost like a religion, so we knew that was going to be a positive pathway to have these conversations.”

Tyreece Daley putting the finishing touches to his custom-designed footy boots. Photo: Bianca Monaghan

With connections to multiple rugby league players, including Cody Walker, Bryan Kelly and Daine Laurie, Mr Caldwell said it’s helped them to create more strategies and programs for young people, especially to mentally prepare those moving out of the area to play professional sport.

“Cody’s been through it and debuted at the age of 26 which is just unheard of, but he just didn’t give up, which is what we want the kids to realise,” he said.

“To be able to have those connections, that support and prepare these kids mentally so they’re ready for anything, that’s what it’s all about.”

Lennox and Tyreece will officially present their custom-designed boots to the Rabbitohs players just in time for their Round 12 match against the Parramatta Eels.