RECENT EELS APPEARANCES

Pirtek Parramatta Eels Star Luke Burt was officially named as an Ambassador and Role Model for the Books in Homes Program. As his first official duty Luke recently attended a very special book giving ceremony held at Horsely Park Public School.

Luke volunteered to become a role model for the program and he did a fantastic job helping to hand out the special books to the entire school. His aim is to share with the children his personal and professional success stories and to reiterate the “if I can, you can too” message. Children look up to role models such as Luke and this is an important way to reinforce that reading and achieving go hand-in-hand.

The Books In Homes Foundation aims to help young disadvantaged children improve their reading skills and to help them develop and maintain a love for reading; which will ultimately broaden their opportunities later in life.

To date, Books in Homes Australia has over 10,000 children in their program from 110 communities across NSW, VIC, QLD, SA and WA.

The Books in Homes program is one that the Eels are very proud to support in conjunction with the Eels literacy program ‘Try Reading’ which also promotes the importance of reading.

Nathan Hindmarsh visits Pendle Hill High School

Nathan Hindmarsh visited Pendle Hill High School last week to say hi to a very special Eels fan, Blake Hayes. Nathan joined year 8 student Blake and his history class where Blake delivered a fantastic ‘This Is Your Life’ presentation for Nathan that all the kids had gone to great efforts to produce. The kids then mummified Nathan in true Egyptian style – very befitting to their history class! Nathan was really touched by the visit and especially the huge effort they went to to document his life!

Thanks for having us Blake!

WORLDS GREATEST SHAVE @ WESTFIELD PARRAMATTA

On Thursday, 13 March, Eels Nathan Cayless, Luke Burt, Nathan Hindmarsh, Ben Smith, Fuifui Moimoi, Taulima Tautai, Etu Uaisele, Feleti Mateo, Weller Hauraki, Brendan Oake and Krisnan Inu shaved and coloured their hair in the Leukaemia Foundation’s World’s Greatest Shave.

Proudly supported by Cumberland Newspapers, publisher of the Parramatta Advertiser, the event aimed to raise money to help the Foundation finance and source long-term research projects into better treatment for blood and bone marrow cancers, to provide support services to patients and their families and to continue working towards a cure.

Brendan Oake underwent the most dramatic conversion, shaving to the skin, while Nathan Cayless, Nathan Hindmarsh, Ben Smith, Fuifui Moimoi, and Weller Hauraki all went for the close cropped look. Taulima Tautai, Etu Uaisele, Feleti Mateo and Krisnan Inu all had their hair coloured in a variety of shades and hues.

SMITH GETS THEM SMILING IN KELLYVILLE

Halfback Tim Smith was the centre of attention as the Eels took Rugby League to Kellyville Public School on Thursday 13 March.

With all Eels players enjoying a day off training ahead of Saturday’s round one blockbuster against the Bulldogs at ANZ Stadium, Smith was out and about early spreading the gospel to some eager youngsters.

Working alongside community and development staff, the 23 year old spent two hours teaching some 300 children from kindergarten to year six the finer points of halfback play.

He also paused to sign autographs and pose for photos with the youngsters.

ERIC GROTHE UNDERGOES SARTORIAL MAKEOVER

Renowned UK style gurus Trinny Woodall and Susannah Constantine met the Eels own guru Eric Grothe during their tour of Australia, with startling results.

Part of a Foxtel special production, Grothe came up looking a treat after being given the once over by the formidable duo.