Auswide Bank CSR Program Award: Stanley River

An unmatched desire to do all they can to know what say in times of crisis has earned Stanley River Wolves the 2023 Auswide Bank Community Social Responsibility Award.

The award recognises a club that includes participates in initiatives such adoption of the player development framework, Positive Environment Program education, wellbeing education and training, adaptive league programs or environmental responsibility education and implementation.

Stanley River president Mary-Anne Hallam was stunned and humbled at the club being recognised for their members' uptake of Support Squad and other measures to look after the health and wellbeing of everyone.

"What we do at the club is amazing and the volunteers we have are amazing and the volunteers who put their hand up to join Support Squad to do the mental health first aid course, I can't thank them enough for what they did to do they course and what they've done in the 18 months since," Hallam said.

"It has been a great initiative and I'm absolutely gobsmacked and proud of our little club that we've been nominated and won this award."

Hallam said the feeling of helplessness as two young players faced tragic circumstances was the catalyst for volunteers coming forward to complete mental health first aid training as part of QRL's Support Squad.

"I personally didn't know how to help them or deal with their grief or talk about it," Hallam said.

"We pretty much cover every team now. There's 11 of us who have done the course. We've got 22 teams at Stanley River, including seniors, and there's a mental health first aider involved in every age group.

"It's important we have that many in the first place for one, and two, having that many people who can identify if someone is going through a mental health crisis or even just having a bad day and need someone to listen to them."

Hallam said the support of QRL Central wellbeing operations manager Ryan Charles had also been invaluable in those difficult times, and in educating players when issues such as bullying and vaping had arisen.

The club had Charles and Brisbane Broncos development officer Jack Reed run an education session after the discovery of a TikTok video of local children vaping.

"Being a smaller club, we're able to really look out for each other. There's not much that goes on that at least one executive doesn't hear about," Hallam said.

She said having a good core group of volunteers set the right example for others to lend a hand and make them want to be part of it, making for a strong club.

Stanley River will receive a $2000 gift voucher from Auswide Bank as part of their prize.