Before lining up against Port Adelaide in Darwin last weekend, Western Bulldogs Brad Johnson and Lindsay Gilbee visited remote communities in the Tiwi Islands as part of the Clubs partnership with the Red Dust Role Models charity.

Red Dust is a non profit organisation dedicated to improving the health and wellbeing of disadvantaged youths in remote communities.  The aim of these visits is to encourage healthy lifestyle decisions and promote personal development and empowerment among Australia’s Indigenous youth.
 
On Thursday the 11th of June, the players were joined by Western Bulldogs General Manager of Football James Fantasia on a visit to communities on Bathurst Island and Melville Island.
 
The trip began with a visit to the newly established Tiwi College, a boarding school for 35 students on Melville Island.  Here the players spent an hour in the classroom with teachers and students, giving all involved a unique experience that won’t soon be forgotten.
 
“They actually go and get the kids on a Monday by plane and bus and they give them accommodation during the week to ensure they stay in school.  The school was amazing, there was a real focus on sport but the kids are involved in everything.  It was a really positive to be there,” Brad Johnson said.

Following this the players conducted a football clinic, giving locals the chance to get some one on one time with the players.

After the clinic, the group boarding a light aircraft for a quick trip across the Arafura Sea to Bathurst Island where the players visited a men’s health and training facility, dedicated to improving the everyday lives of locals from the Nguiu community, located on the southern coast of Bathurst Island.  It was this visit that really left an impact on Bulldogs Captain Brad Johnson.
 
“They work out of shipping containers, but Red Dust had recently re-painted the rooms to brighten it up for everyone.  The whole community was there and they just love their footy.  They really embraced Lindsay and I, seeing them do back flips and all those other things really blew us away,” he said.

The players also made time for a visit to Xavier College, where they spoke to students about how much training and preparation is required to be a professional footballer.  The players were looking to provide a realistic picture of what it takes to play in the AFL for all of those with dreams of playing on the national stage.

After the talk, the Western Bulldogs hosted a community barbeque at the men’s centre, where they met representatives from Greening Australia and planted trees on behalf of the club.

It was here that one local in particular left a special impression on Lindsay Gilbee, someone he shared more in common with then he first thought.

“It was quite an experience going to the Tiwi Islands, it made it even more special for me to meet a young local boy also called Lindsay Gilbee.  I have never met another Lindsay Gilbee and it was quite special experience,” Gilbee said.

Along the way Brad and Lindsay encouraged everyone they met to make the trip down to Darwin for the game against Port Adelaide and those who were able to come, enjoyed the opportunity to meet Western Bulldogs players after the game.
 
It was truly an unforgettable experience for all of those involved and it was a trip that is sure to leave a life-long impression on the players.

“One thing that I did take out of it was the cultural experience.  It is such a laid back lifestyle which I really enjoyed it and I would love to spend more time up there in the near future. It was beautiful place,” Gilbee said.