Easts Together – March to August 2025

The Easts Group and Sydney Roosters have participated in several community activities across the period, with highlights below:

  • March 6: We hosted the 30 men from Restoration Centre in our Community Corner. The charity supports men facing challenges by providing a safe space for healing, connection, and personal growth. Easts Junior League participants also participated in HT mini league.
  • March 7: We supported two International Women’s Day events for St Vincent De Paul and Bondi Junction Business Chamber.
  • March 8: We hosted Easts Junior League Rego Day at Burrows Park. Over two hundred players and their families joined Victor Radley and NRLW players to sign up for junior league for the 2025 season. NRL Game development staff did a great job running activities for the kids and feedback from all three clubs was excellent, including new registrations.
  • March 12: Admin at the Roosters hosted a morning tea to support Down Syndrome NSW’s Crazy Socks Campaign as part of World Down Syndrome Day. Millie Boyle and Olivia Kernick joined Ellen and Crystal from Down Syndrome NSW to discuss inclusion and supporting people with a disability.
  • March 18: As part of the NRL Multicultural Round, we proudly partnered with the League of Roosters Club, the Te Atatū Roosters from Auckland. They designed the unique socks worn by our team in Round 5 against South Sydney, celebrating the rich cultural heritage of our Pasifika players.
  • March 25: Roosters players Naufahu Whyte, Junior Pauga, and Millie Elliot, along with staff and sponsor representatives from KD Community, presented new jerseys to our Roosters PDRL Disability Team ahead of their NSWRL season opener. Club officials and coaches expressed heartfelt appreciation, further strengthening our valued partnership.
  • March 29: We proudly supported NSW Police Legacy by hosting a table at their annual Blue-Ribbon Ball and donating a signed Roosters jersey for their fundraising auction. We also facilitated a special connection between the event’s keynote speaker – a legatee who lost his father – and the Cronulla Sharks, as he and his son are dedicated fans.
  • March 30: Roosters staff supported the Ronald McDonald House Charities’ Walk Me Home event, providing water and refreshments to participants at the halfway point of the 25km walk from Rose Bay to Randwick Children’s Hospital. Roosters Ambassador Nat Butcher was also present to cheer on the walkers.
  • April 23: The Community Team attended KARI Foundation’s Annual Unity Day event in Liverpool, providing giveaways and prizes, and feedback from attendees and leaders from KARI was very positive.
  • April 24: The community team attended the Lest We Forget Harbour Sunset Tribute 2025 as VIP guests of the Australian Remembrance Foundation.
  • April 25: Anthony Brooks attended the Anzac Day Dawn Service at the ANZAC Obelisk, Moore Park. He laid a wreath on behalf of the Club with Justin Harrison of Rugby Australia, Tom Harley of the Swans, and Lee Germon of Cricket NSW. Ahead of our match against the Dragons, Anthony and Alan Katzman hosted Ray Stehr’s grandson and extended family, including a tour of our Central of Excellence and the Foundation Room.  With the support of Venues NSW, we also hosted 99-year-old WWII veteran Mr. Theodore Gordon Darlington and his family. Gordon was included in the pre-game Anzac Ceremony. His family and the Australian Remembrance Foundation were very grateful for our efforts to honor Gordon and spotlight the Foundation in our Community Corner.
  • April 29: Staff and Billy Smith attended Westmead Children’s Hospital for the announcement of a new paediatric hospice. Situated within The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, the new hospice will be called ‘Mounties Care Cottage’ and will support families across NSW. The hospice is inspired by Sydney boy, Rio Fowler, and the work of Rio’s Legacy. The Minns Government will contribute more than $20 million. The Mounties Group will contribute $13 million over 10 years to the project through the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Foundation. Rio was diagnosed with a rare and terminal condition called arterial vasculopathy disease at 16 months old. Rio and his family spent time at the children’s hospice, Bear Cottage in Manly, part of Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network (SCHN), for end-of-life care before he died in 2018. Following his death, Rio’s parents, Ryan and Karen, founded Rio’s Legacy, a charity dedicated to supporting families and children with life-limiting conditions and advocating for services like Bear Cottage. At the time of Rio’s passing, Ryan was a teacher and coach at Scots College. Billy was a student, and he wanted to help. Since this time, and as an Ambassador, he has provided invaluable support to Ryan and Karen. The design process has commenced, and the facility will open in 2028.
  • May 4: Staff attended the official opening of the Bondi Icebergs Club’s 2025 Winter Swimming season. The Club was acknowledged in conjunction with local government leaders and sponsors of the Club.
  • May 8 and 15: The Community Team met with Connor and Millie, respectively, to progress Indigenous and Disability initiatives that are planned later in the season. This includes the Boots for a Brighter Futures initiative, which allows young Indigenous students to provide specially designed boots worn during the NRL’s Indigenous Round on 15th August and auctioned off for his charity, Cultural Choice Association Inc. We will also host the Roosters Physical Disability Rugby League team on 1st June, as they will play at half time during our NRL match against the Raiders.
  • May 16: Management assisted in hosting 30+ students and teachers from Oklahoma State University, who toured our Centre of Excellence as part of a study trip to Australia.
  • May 31: Management hosted elders from the La Perouse Aboriginal Land Council for a morning tea, a tour of the CoE, and to watch Captains Run. Olivia Kernick also attended, and both players, coaches, and staff engaged with our indigenous guests, who had a wonderful experience.
  • June 17: Management had the privilege of attending the National Police Legacy Day event at the Park Hyatt Sydney, alongside the Premier, the Governor, and a number of distinguished guests. The evening was highlighted by the lighting of the Opera House sails, a powerful tribute to honour the service and sacrifice of police officers and their families.
  • July 9 & 10: Staff hosted a NAIDOC Week event in partnership with Deadly Choices at our Centre of Excellence, featuring Olivia Kernick and representatives from Deadly Choices. The session provided an opportunity to learn more about the organisation, their partnership with the Club, and the significance of NAIDOC Week from their perspective. In addition, 10 staff and players proudly represented the Club at the KARI Foundation’s NAIDOC Corporate Games held at La Perouse, contributing to a positive day of celebration, connection, and cultural pride.
  • July 23: Management had the privilege of hosting staff from the Department of Veterans Affairs, family members from the United States Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), and Invictus Australia. The group toured our facilities and met with players, including James Tedesco and Head Coach Trent Robinson. Everyone engaged in meaningful conversations about service, sacrifice, and remembrance. Robinson recorded a message to be played to all the program participants ahead of their three-day conference. On game night, Trent wore commemorative badges in honor of Sergeant Peter Jon Cafe, husband of Cherne, and Brigadier General Tom Carroll, late husband of TAPS Founder Bonnie Carroll. This gesture deeply moved all who saw Bonnie and Gwen gift these commemorative badges to Trent. We were the first Australian Sporting team to host them, and management is meeting with Invictus Australia CEO Michael Hartung on 25 August to explore a future partnership and ways we can continue to support veterans.
  • July 23: Management attended Brigidine College as guests of Lokahi Foundation CEO and Founder, Rachel Lloyd, who delivered a powerful presentation to Year 12 students from Brigidine and Marcellin Colleges on the issue of domestic and family abuse.
  • August 4: At Allianz Stadium, management, NRL players, and staff joined students and representatives from Cultural Choices Association Inc. (Connor Watson’s charity) on the field. The occasion featured a powerful smoking ceremony led by KARI, followed by students presenting hand-painted Indigenous boots for each player to wear in the Indigenous Round. Some of these boots will be auctioned to raise funds for the Boots for a Brighter Future program, supporting Indigenous youth through mental health, suicide prevention, and cultural initiatives.
  • August 7: Management and Andrew Crawford joined leaders from across NSW’s emergency services at a special Recognition Event held at NSW Parliament House. Ministers Dib (Emergency Services), Park (Health), Catley (Police), and Kamper (Sport) were in attendance to graciously accept the Club’s $100,000 donation. Andrew acknowledged the vital support of the agencies and government, expressing the Club’s commitment to strengthening these partnerships and our ambition to grow the Emergency Services event into a marquee fixture, much like the iconic Anzac Day game. In response, Minister Dib thanked the Roosters for their leadership and dedication in honouring frontline heroes and volunteers.