Johnathan Thurston bestowed with honorary title of Fellow of the University of Southern Queensland

NRL and North Queensland Cowboys legend Johnathan Thurston is still busy winning awards, long after his rugby league career is over.

He was a legend on the rugby league field, but it’s more what Johnathan Thurston AM has done and continues to do away from the field that the University of Southern Queensland bestowed upon him the honorary title of Fellow of the University.

In awarding the honour, University of Southern Queensland Chancellor John Dornbusch listed a number of Mr Thurston’s achievements away from the sporting field, such as founding and launching the Johnathan Thurston Academy which provides a forum to encourage Indigenous youth to access the educational and vocational resources needed to secure meaningful employment.

Johnathan Thurston adjusts his mortarboard after being conferred with the honorary title of Fellow of the University of Southern Queensland at the Empire Theatre, Toowoomba, December 15, 2022.

“Mr Thurston is a key supporter of NRL Cowboys House which provides mentoring and accommodation for students from remote Queensland communities,” she said.

“He is also an ambassador for Deadly Kindies, a kindergarten program that supports and strengthens children’s First Nations identity and boosts the number of Indigenous children receiving early childhood education.”

Mr Thurston said he maintained strong ties to Toowoomba and was honoured to receive the award from UniSQ.

“It’s a huge honour, Toowoomba had a profound effect on me when I arrived here as a 16-year-old,” he said.

Johnathan Thurston poses with his bronze statue during its unveliling at Queensland Country Bank Stadium on February 21, 2020 in Townsville. Picture: Getty

“Doing year 11 and 12 at St Mary’s was a big change but the community took me in as one of their own and the people I lived with, I’m very grateful for them taking me in.

“I’ve got some really close mates from my time here and to be rewarded with this award is certainly a huge honour.

“As I said Toowoomba had a big impact on me and that’s when I started to feel like my life turned around and I started to shoot for the stars.”

Mr Thurston said he was able to use his profile through rugby league to help the next generation of people coming through.

“Being Aboriginal lies at the very core of who I am as a person and using the platform through rugby league I’ve been able to help create a bit of social change for our people, and that’s what I’m passionate about is creating opportunities for the next generation of our culture.”

Mr Thurston works with Indigenous youth in remote communities, encouraging them to stay in school through the Johnathan Thurston Academy.

He said often when the program started the school had an attendance rate of about 40 per cent to 50 per cent but at the conclusion of the program that attendance was up to 85 per cent to 90 per cent.