July 26, 2013
Rugby league superstar Petero Civoniceva was king of of the kids when he visited Kingaroy and Nanango on Thursday, but he had a very serious message for his young fans.
The former Maroon and Kangaroo is now an Ambassador for the NRL One Community program and is pushing a simple message, there is no room for bullies, on or off the football field.
The NRL has produced a “Tackle Bullying” DVD which features former NRL players, and ambassadors such as Petero are visiting schools and sports clubs to spread the positive message that “anyone can be a hero” to stop bullying.
Petero has been kept busy with the program … last week he was in Darwin, next week he’ll be in Roma.
On Thursday he visited Nanango State High School, Taabinga State School, Kingaroy State High School and the Kingaroy Red Ants clubhouse.
He covers an area stretching from the Northern Territory through Queensland to northern NSW.
“Bullying, unfortunately, is such a huge part of our society at all levels … in adult life as well,” Petero told southburnett.com.au today.
He said the Tackle Bullying program was aimed to help young people understand exactly what bullying is and how to deal with it.
Petero said a lot of people thought if they simply ignored bullying it would go away.
“If anything it can get worse,” he said.
He said children who felt they were being bullied should talk to someone they can trust: a parent, teacher or a friend.
Petero said he was talking recently at a school where a Year 11 student had just committed suicide.
“When you here stories like that it really hits home,” he said.
He said friends could help by not being “a bystander” to bullying.
“If you see bullying behaviour, something that makes you feel uncomfortable, you can be a hero,” he said.
“Go to the person who is being bullied and be positive; tell a teacher or a parent.”
Petero said the same thing applied to cyber-bullying.
“If you get caught up in a bullying situation, report it right away,” he said.
Petero played for the Brisbane Broncos from 1998 to 2007, and then after a stint with Penrith, was back with the Broncos in 2012.
He announced his retirement from the NRL at the end of last season, but hasn’t hung up his footy boots yet.
He’s now back playing for the Redcliffe Dolphins in the Queensland Cup and by all reports had a good game for his old junior club last weekend.
“It was an important win for us,” he said.
“We are starting to string some good games together ahead of the semi-finals.”
Petero said playing with the Dolphins was his way of repaying the club for all the help they had given him as a junior footballer.
Does he have any thoughts about retiring?
“My wife may let me play another season …” he joked.
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Petero has more visits in the South Burnett planned.
Today (July 26), he’ll be at Kingaroy State School, Wondai SS, Murgon SHS and the Murgon Mustangs at Murgon Sports Ground.
On Thursday, August 1, he’ll visit Blackbutt SS, Yarraman P-10, Nanango SS and St Patrick’s Catholic School in Nanango.
On Monday, September 2, he’ll be at Goomeri P-10, Murgon SS and Cherbourg SS.
Petero’s visits to the South Burnett have been organised by the South Burnett Junior Rugby League.
