This week Souths Cares have spread their Bright Smiles, Bright Future message to 1000 students in six primary schools over a four day Oral Health Awareness tour on the mid north coast.
Commencing on Monday, the Souths Cares motorcade travelled over 700km in a round trip to reach primary schools as far north as Taree to inspire students to live healthy through good oral practices coupled with wholesome eating choices.
With former Rabbitohs Roy Asotasi and Beau Champion along with current Rabbitohs Connor Tracey and Brett Greinke, the Souths Cares squad treated the students to an interactive learning experience that involved NRL skills games, Oral Health exercises and a video presentation starring Beau Champion, Kyle Turner and Alex Johnston.
New Rabbitohs recruit Connor Tracey believes the format was a big success in delivering South Cares and Colgate’s Bright Smiles, Bright Futures oral health care program during the Friendly Schools and Regional Tours Program.
"It's been a big week. The kids have been really good, they really listened to you. We've been having a lot of fun with them," said Tracey.
"We talked to them about dental health and general healthy eating and drinking. We're trying to get them at a young age to know what it takes to have a good lifestyle and healthy teeth."
Former Rabbitohs captain Roy Asotasi highlighted the importance of the work being done by Souths Cares in educating children early in life to live healthy.
"Primary schools are the perfect location to educate, teach and share our experiences of what we've done," said Asotasi.
"Especially being in the top grade, playing at professional levels, we understand what it is to live a healthy lifestyle to eat well and drink well. It's important that Souths Cares can get around and share the message."
Enthusiastic students were thrilled at the opportunity to mingle with their Rabbitohs heros and the Souths Cares staff, with one student declaring; "It was incredible".
Finishing up on Thursday at Karuah Public School with a bit of fun, the Souths Cares squad and students had a crack at the Mannequin Challenge to end what had been another successful Oral Health tour since launching the program in 2014.
The program is made possible through the assistance of Colgate, the Centre for Oral Health Strategy and the Poche Centre for Indigenous Health.
