Roosters stars Connor Watson and Sam Walker meet Griffith fans Oscar and Harrison Floyd at Limone Restaurant. Photo: Supplied.
Griffith residents having their usual morning coffee at Limone Dining Restaurant or a beer at the Griffith Exies this week may have been surprised to see high-profile stars from the NRL club the Sydney Roosters at the tables next to them.
In a rare mid-season visit to the Riverina, Roosters halfback Sam Walker, hooker Connor Watson, centre Paul Momirovski, women’s team winger Brydie Parker, and other players were in Griffith on Monday, 22 May and Tuesday, 23 May.
Their packed program of activities included visits to local schools Hanwood Public School, Yoogali Public School and a charity lunch at the Whitton Malt House.
Their sponsor, chicken producer Steggles, organised the visit to support the Steggles Roosters Charity Nest, which raises money for various causes to support children in need.
“Visiting regional Australia is important to us, so we love to have the opportunity to get out to the grassroots and meet people who find community through sport. It’s a privilege that we get to give back in such a fun way and are lucky to work with Steggles to have the chance to do this,” Connor Watson said.
Dene Beltrame, president of the Griffith Autism Spectrum Support Group, helped organise a breakfast at Limone, so that 20 children in her group could meet their idols.
“It was really lovely, it was intimate,” she said. “They were easygoing and very approachable. They talked to all the kids personally and gave them some merchandise.
“My son Noah [an autism advocate] showed them all the statistics and how he works out the ladder and positions and who’s going to win in the next round.
“Charity Nest give us a cheque every quarter. They have been sponsoring events for us – they’re great.”
The players also held a coaching clinic for children on Exies Oval.
Harrison and Oscar Floyd enjoy a drink at the Charity Nest event. Photo: Supplied.
Steggles’ head of marketing, Yash Gandhi, said: “We’re so pleased that we can play a small part to help support local communities that have had it tough the past few years. We want to extend a huge thank you to the people of Griffith that welcomed us to their community for the second stop on our Steggles Roosters Regional Roadshow.”
The Charity Nest recently welcomed two new charities to the fold – the Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) and Sydney Children’s Hospitals Foundation. These join the Children’s Cancer Institute and Children’s Hospital Foundation Queensland to support Aussie kids and families.
Since launching in 2010, the initiative has raised just under $5 million for children’s charities.
Steggles’ parent company, Baiada Poultry, is one of the biggest employers in Griffith. Further information on the Charity Nest can be found on the Steggles website.
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