Johnathan Thurston: 'what I'm most passionate about is my culture', Australian Human Rights Commission Medal - 2017

8 December 2018, Brisbane, Australia

Wow. The last time I had an award I was looking at the other finalist and saying to my wife I have no chance of winning the Queensland Australian of the Year. So I didn't go in prepared. [inaudible 00:00:19] I win that. So I'm a little bit more prepared today. Excuse me, I'm a little bit nervous up here. Kicking a football is much easier. The human rights medal is awarded to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the advancement of human rights in Australia. It is truly humbling to be receiving this award. And I want to congratulate and thank all of the award finalists and winners here today for the work that they're doing within their own communities to make the country that I love a better place to live.

I'm more so thrilled to be able to share this opportunity with a special young Australian, Palmer, who is here with me today. Palmer is 13 years old. He comes from a remote community of Laurel on Cape York, far north of Queensland. This year was Palmer's first year at the NRL Cowboy's house, which supports some of the most disadvantaged young Australians to gain access to a quality secondary school education. Palmer has thrived in his home away from home, overcoming the challenge of attending a new school with over 1200 students. The last school that Palmer was at, the previous school he was at, had 20 students. I got to know Palmer and the other students as the ambassador of the house. And hear their stories and come to realize how resilient and how much progress they are making in the house, which is truly inspiring to me.

You may know that I'm passionate about my sport, my club, my state, and my country. But what I'm most passionate about is my culture. Excuse me. And the future generations of my people. I believe that one of the biggest drivers for social change, I need tissues. I believe that one of the biggest drivers for social change and to closing the gap is an education. And it starts with our young people like Palmer who is standing beside me. I'm fortunate enough to be in a position to work with indigenous ... Thank you. With indigenous youth from early childhood through to young adulthood. As an ambassador for programs like Deadly Kindies, which is getting parents to get their young children to an aboriginal medical service in southeast Queensland and Brisbane. We started with three medical services last year. These have been rolled out to the 19 medical services proving support for disadvantaged young Aboriginal people.

I'm just one person in a community of leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators who are working to create better lives for indigenous Australians. As a Queensland reconciliations awards ambassador, I can help raise awareness and recognition for life changing initiatives that are all making a difference. I'm in this position today because of my family, the sport that I play, the club that I represent, and mentors that have believed in me. And now it is up to me to take this responsibility and help believe in others like Palmer. To have access to equal opportunity, and are empowered to live their best lives. Once again I want to congratulate and thank all the other award finalists, and it is truly a humbling experience to be standing here to receive this award.

While I have received a lot of accolades in my career on the football field, to be recognized for the work I do in the community far outweighs the things I've achieved on the field. So thank you.

 

Cooper Cronk: 'Because while football is very important, life is way more important', Retirement speech - 2017

3 October 2017, Melbourne, Australia

On Craig Bellamy

Craig sets an agenda or an example of what it takes to be successful but he also has this side of humility that makes you a better person and some guys have come to this club that have been really good players, way better than some of the other ones that have come through the door. “Some of the lunatics get out the door real quick because they just don’t fit and that’s because of Craig.

His humility from where he’s come from and what he has is something that I’ve learnt. The two lessons that I’ve learnt from Craig is that hard work pays off and humility is a trait that you want to have.

Craig thank you, you’re the biggest influence on my rugby league career. I thank you for the person you are and I wish you all the very best with your ever growing family with a couple of grandkids now and that brings a smile to my face, knowing that you’re very happy with your life and where it’s at and I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

On Cmeron Smith

To Cameron and Bill — I tell you what we balled our eyes out the other day when we presented each other jerseys, it is emotional once you develop relationships over a long period of time and we all met in 2001.

Cameron used to drive me in his hotted up HG Holden car when I didn’t know the difference between a windscreen wiper and a mud flap but he would absolutely fang the thing on the Gateway Motorway and I remember one day it was teeming down with rain and he aquaplaned it at about 160km/h and I was holding on for dear life. So thanks for almost killing me ...

Thank you for doing the things we did.

On Billy Slater

We all know Billy’s story about driving down from Innisfail but we all don’t know the story that he used to drive a maroon Magna with roof racks — and who has surf in Innisfail, there is no surfboards.

He had moo cow seatcovers and I had a Nissan Pintara and we used to go down to the Gold Coast and race each other down there. Let’s just say I’d beat him hands down all the time.

We met each other in 2001 at Brisbane Norths and it’s now 2017 and what’s been done is, I would never have thought the moments we had back in 2001 that we’d all be standing here today.

The thing that I’m most proud of is not that we’ve won some competitions or some individual medals or represented our states and our country.

I’m proud that I’ve been a part of both of them getting married, both of them having kids, both of them having a life that they can be tremendously proud of. Not only in the things that they’ve achieved but the people they are and the example they are for other people in this room and everyone at Melbourne Storm.

On partner Tara

People used to get up here and thank their wives and their girlfriends for their influence on them as people and the way they play.

I used to sit there when I was 19 and think, they don’t help you tackle or run. So why are you thanking them?

But after meeting Tara a few years back I understand why you say thank you now. Because while football is very important, life is way more important.

So she’s not here tonight but Melbourne Storm is the second best thing that’s ever happened to me, Tara’s number one and I thank you very much everything you’ve ever done for me.

Source: http://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/cooper-cr...