NRL stars Latrell Mitchell and Jack Wighton help Jubullum Mission recover from tragedy

It’s the teenage tragedy that has broken the hearts of an Indigenous community, but its elders and NRL stars Latrell Mitchell and Jack Wighton are determined to change the lives of the next generation.

Aunty Carmel McGrady doesn’t know how to mourn any more.

She’s seen so much death in her community that the shock loss of two teenage boys who were travelling in a car that slammed into a tree has almost left her numb.

“I’m getting to the stage where I don’t know how to mourn because I mourn a lot these days,” she said.

“It’s sad when you get to that point in your life, when you don’t know how to mourn the loss of a loved one, and we have these two young fellas we’ve lost. The impact on our community is devastating.”

Andre Avery, the 15-year-old cousin of NRL star Cody Walker was in a stolen VW Tiguan with Latrell Mitchell’s cousin, 14-year-old Jakarl Jae Simon, when the vehicle smashed into a tree.

Andre Avery’s mother Danielle (right) and sister Anne-Marie at the memorial to their son and brother who died alongside Jakarl Simon in a car crash last year in Jubullum. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

The passengers in the back of the car somehow survived.

Andre, or “King Dre” as his friends affectionately knew him, lived on the Jubullum Mission, between Casino and Tenterfield. Aunty Carmel is one of the elders. Jakarl was from Taree, five hours away.

Andre’s shattered mum Daniella Avery had never met the boy whose memory now holds a permanent place alongside her son in a shared memorial on the crash site just over the river from home.

An Aboriginal flag hugs the remnants of the tree that copped the brunt of the deadly force of the car, and mementos fill the plots, guarded by a white fence decorated with fairy lights.

“It's a place to just come and sit and be with him. It feels peaceful here, it’s hard to describe,” Andre’s mum says, tears welling in her eyes.

She doesn’t like to talk too much about the things she misses about her youngest child: “It’s too hard and I will get too upset”.

For Aunty Carmel the heartache dumped on the Wahlabul men, women and children who call Jubullum Mission home can only lift if people support each other – and allow help from outside.

Latrell Mitchell’s cousin Jakarl Simon died in the crash. Picture: Supplied

Andre Avery also was victim in the car crash in northern NSW. Picture: Supplied

“We’ve got a job to do, we’ve got to try and pull ourselves together, it’s hard to talk about, we’ve seen so many deaths in the last six months but we have got to try,” the Wahlabul elder told locals gathered for a yarn circle. Local police, who work closely with the elders, were invited to attend.

“Some people don’t like police, but that’s a stereotype, I know a lot of people do hate seeing them but that’s just like putting people in a box, like people do to Aboriginal people they think we are all lazy drunks. My aim is to stick together and work together and change the attitude of a lot of people. They’ve got a job to do like everyone else, we have got to try.”

Uncle Ernest Heckling believes the challenge for communities is to find ways to engage them, teach them their culture and get back to basics.

“Respect, love and caring … it’s gone,” he said.

NRL star Jack Wighton, alongside Latrell Mitchell, speaks to the residents at Jubullum. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

“When we were growing up you could feel it. I was so proud to be brought up here by our river … there were rules.”

After that call in the middle of the night that a teenager from the community had been involved in a hellish accident the community spent a week rallying around the family for sorry business.

This week they were gathered in the hall that doubles as a basketball court, footy field, meeting place. Aunty Carmel dished up her damper and kangaroo stew for anyone not keen on sausage sandwiches.

Children bounced balls while adults chatted, shed tears and hugs and had a yarn about what they think they need to do to pull their community through this.

“Respect, love and caring that’s what we need,” Uncle Ernest repeated.

Andre Avery’s family gather to pay respects to the teenager who passed away in a car crash. From left to right: Raylene, Daniella, Barbara, Patria and Anne-Maree Avery. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Uncle Ernest Hickling is a respected elder of the community and ‘respect, love and caring’ are three rules that he wants all to abide by. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

One man who understands that sentiment is someone who may not be the first person these elders would think to turn to.

“I’m not going to come here and tell you what we think you want to do, or should do, we want to learn from you,” said the boss of cops for the entire Richmond region, Superintendent Scott Tanner.

He is passionate about working with elders to make them feel more connected with their youth and getting kids on the right path.

“We all need to be on the same page, we need to understand all the different parts of community and as Uncle Ernest said, respect, love and care for each other,” he said.

“The next generation are not lost, they just need to be shown the way.”

MITCHELL AND WIGHTON PAY RESPECTS

It took Latrel Mtchell and Jack Wighton eight hours of travel on their day off to spend just one hour with locals at Jubullum Mission but it was one hour that meant everything to the locals.

The NRL stars made the trek because they needed in their hearts to pay their respects to their people in mourning.

Latrell Mitchell is hoping to provide inspiration to the local residents of Jubullum. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

For “the queen of rocky river”, the eldest elder on the mission some two hours west of Ballina, the visit was priceless.

“Latrell came up and gave me a big hug and looked into my eyes and that was something really great I didn’t expect that,” said Aunty Mary Walker-Torrens, a blood relative of the players’ teammate Cody Walker. “That was really good, good for our little fellas to see too.”

Aunty Mary gathered with kids, community members and police and education leaders who came together in a yarning circle to make sense of their loss after two young boys were killed in a car crash just a few kilometres away, over the river. The accident shattered the tight-knit community and sparked reminiscing about life growing up in the bush and what has changed to the point kids as young as 14 now find fun in dangerous ways.

Aunty Carmel McGrady. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Queen of the Rocky River, Aunty Mary Walker-Torrens. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

“The saddest part is our little fellas are not getting to grow up like we did, around the river,” Aunty Mary said. “On the weekends we would live down there, hunting turtles, fishing, little crayfish, lilly pillies, we’d live on bush lemons, we’d carry salt and pepper in our pockets.”

Adding vinegar was an extra delight. Did it make it too sour? “Nope” Aunty Mary said “Every black fella loves it, but we didn’t know how bad it was for our teeth.”

Aunty Mary knows she has a big burden to carry, bringing the community together and getting the young to dream big, realise they too can follow their dreams like Latrell and Jack.

“I came here today because I wanted to show my love and support for my fellas,” Latrell told the locals. “I was in Sydney training when I heard that my little cousin passed away and it hit pretty hard. It had a big effect on myself and my energy.

“The way I can do my bit is keep doing my thing, representing my people on the big stage.”

NRL STARS BACK QUEST TO CHANGE LIVES

Police are on a mission to encourage kids to make smart choices and give themselves every chance to fulfil their dreams. And they have a few superstars in their corner backing their play.

NRL stars Latrell Mitchell and Cody Walker star in a video with two of the state’s top brass Assistant Commissioners Peter McKenna and Gavin Wood to share some insight on what it takes to resist temptation and choose hard work.

Latrell Mitchell with some of his fans. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Called Choices – You Decide, and produced by The Sunday Telegraph, the video will be used in every school throughout the state and by police officers in the youth command who work with juveniles in detention and help them transition back into the community.

In the video, Latrell talks about his work with police around the country.

“I just think it’s breaking down the stigma … where we just think that Aboriginal people and police don’t get on in this country and I think that’s something that we need to break down,” he said.

Police Minister Yasmin Catley said she was “filled with admiration for NRL stars and their willingness to give their scarce time back to their communities and young people”.

“Our officers go above and beyond to support the communities they live and work in. Police can’t do it alone, strong relationships between police, government, community leaders and organisations all play a critical role in ensuring kids are happy and healthy.”

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