Everyone looks forward to a cosy winter lunch break.
A cheese toastie, maybe some hot soup. But for Senior Constable Stuart Newton, Stewart Island¡¯s Sole Charge Officer, it¡¯s a chance to get out in the slightly less-than-tropical conditions to coach rugby skills to the island¡¯s kids.
Stuart¡¯s been heading to Halfmoon Bay School, when his work hours and the weather conditions permit, to take a group of enthusiastic boys and girls through a rugby skills programme during their lunch breaks.
Stuart says it¡¯s been a great way to level up the playing field for kids on the island who are keen on rugby.
¡°With a small roll of about 30 students, from new entrants to year 8, the school doesn¡¯t have the numbers to field a complete rugby team,¡± he says.
¡°For some students who want to play at high school, they haven¡¯t had the exposure and experience [of the game]. That immediately puts them at a potential disadvantage against those mainlanders who have progressed through ripper rugby and age group rugby.¡±
As Stuart began his sessions, he quickly realised enthusiasm was never going to be an issue - but a lack of equipment was apparent.
¡°The school didn¡¯t have any tackle pads or bags and the students were using each other as tackle bags for practice!¡±
So Stuart reached out for help and got more than he bargained for.
¡°I approached the Southland Rugby Union about tackle bags and pads for the school and following a short discussion it was questioned about holding a coaching clinic for the students.¡±
With the support of the school and some of Stuart¡¯s key contacts, the wheels were put in motion pretty quickly for some special guest experts to help out with the clinic.
¡°With support from Real NZ (Rakiura - Bluff Ferry service), they sponsored six Southland Rugby players the trip across the torrid Foveaux Strait and it all came together.¡±
Southland Stags mascot Steve-O even made the trip and was immediately the centre of attention. But according to Stuart, overall, rugby was the big winner on the day.
¡°All the age groups of the school had coaching targeted towards their respective skills and abilities, providing a great interactive day that had a lot of smiles and further enthusiasm for the game of rugby.¡±
To put the icing on the cake, the students were left with mouthguards, hair scrunchies, a tackle bag and pads along with their new skills.
¡°This is a credit to the Southland Rugby Union and a huge thank you to the support of those that helped make this day happen," says Stuart, "and particularly to the students for actively engaging in the clinic.¡±