This week, the Desert Rose room at Tillys Waratah 2 had a special visitor – a Newcastle Knights player dropped by to spend time with the children and share her passion of footy.
The children were thrilled as they learned new training techniques, practiced fun footy skills, and asked plenty of questions about what it’s like to play professionally. Even more special was the generous donation of Knights merchandise to the Desert Rose, which had the children very excited!
Inspired by the visit, the children decided they wanted to give back too. Together, they created Christmas gifts packs using the donated Knights merchandise to place under our community Christmas Tree. We’re proud to be partnering with the LIVEfree Project this year to help collect and donate gifts to children and families in need.
Building strong community connections is very important to us here at Tillys Waratah 2 as these connections helps children see the world beyond the classroom walls. When they interact with positive role models – like the Newcastle Knights – they learn about teamwork, kindness, and the power of giving back. Through hands-on involvement in the gift giving project, the children showed empathy and contribution to their community. Moments like these remind us that learning isn’t just about knowledge, it’s about belonging, community, and love.
A huge thank you to the Newcastle Knights and the Live Free Project for helping us make this season a little brighter for everyone.
