Respect Month wrap: Clubs share the love as new education delivered
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Rugby league clubs across Queensland shone a light on the meaning and importance of respect during May to mark Respect Month.
Social media was buzzing with images and videos of participants of all forms showing each other respect and encouraging others to do the same.
Tweed Seagulls hosted an activation with women's advocacy group Zonta on the first weekend of May as statewide competitions marked Respect Round, while later in the month community clubs did everything from handshakes to spelling out RESPECT with people and hosting events to bring awareness to prevention of negative behaviour.
The South Burnett region was an epicentre for activities, with Murgon Mustangs again hosting their DV Awareness Round, an ongoing event since 2017.
Last week, high school students and players at a number of clubs in the region also took lessons from Respect Relationships education, an inaugural QRL initiative delivered by members of the QRL Club Education team.
Murgon Mustangs Support Squad volunteer Anita Smith, who was also involved in delivering the education, said the sessions delivered to boys and girls age 13 and up had many important lessons.
"I think it was a platform to talk about some difficult topics at such a crucial age," she said.
"It was talking about what's okay, what's not okay and used different interactive exercises to demonstrate things that can seem really subtle.
"I got some comments back from some of the schools and teachers that the kids were talking about it afterwards, so I think it provides that platform to think about it and maybe talk about things that sometimes people don't talk about or put into words, or it's hard for parents sometimes or maybe seen as something not as cool to talk about with your peers, so I thought it was really good in that way.
"It's really fortunate the QRL Club Education team linked in (with the DV Awareness Round) and they did that really well in talking to the clubs and the schools."
Smith said respect was a continuous theme at her club the Mustangs, regularly handing out respect awards to highlight positive behaviour.
"We need to give that consistent message about what's okay and not okay and that extends to what we do playing the game and watching the game but also in our homes as well."
Respectful Relationships education was also delivered to Queensland Under 17 Emerging boys and girls squads at their camps in May.
Four community rugby league clubs have been chosen to receive prizes for their efforts to promote Respect Month, one of dozens to do so with the hashtag #QRLRespectMonth during May
Moranbah Miners
Mount Isa Rugby League
Fassifern Bombers
Middlemount Junior Rugby League
Main image: Murgon Mustangs and Cherbourg Hornets A grade players after their match as part of the Mustangs' DV Awareness Round held during Respect Month.
