Chiefs' players and Little Buddies. L-R: Caleb Stephens, Matthew Troncofo, Stephen Donald, Finn Murdock, Anton Lienert-Brown, Liam Messam, Big Buddy Sean Stephens, Jaymie Bull. Photo / Supplied
Chiefs' players and Little Buddies. L-R: Caleb Stephens, Matthew Troncofo, Stephen Donald, Finn Murdock, Anton Lienert-Brown, Liam Messam, Big Buddy Sean Stephens, Jaymie Bull. Photo / Supplied
When boys' mentoring charity Big Buddy talks about finding positive male role models for fatherless 7 to 14-year-olds, they're not asking for saints or sports stars to put their hands up.
Although, anyone watching some of the Gallagher Chiefs' best-known rugby players and five Little Buddies at a training sessionlast week would be convinced otherwise.
Thanks to a very thoughtful benefactor, five pairs of Hamilton Big and Little Buddies got to spend almost three hours in the company of famous sportsmen. The group, including Big Buddy area co-ordinator Andrew McFadden, were shown round the team's facilities and treated to lunch. They then spent an hour on the field with Damian McKenzie, Stephen Donald, Liam Messam and Anton Lienert-Brown. McFadden says watching the players give their undivided attention to the boys while they conducted a mock-training session was truly inspiring.
"At one point, Liam Messam ran alongside one of the boys to encourage him, and when he really began to struggle, Damian McKenzie simply sat down on the grass with him and talked. It was great to see the smiles on these boys' faces. Their Big Buddies had a great time too. It certainly was a memorable day."
International test-playing Gallagher Chiefs players might be a little thin on the ground, but McFadden says kindness and the ability to dedicate some time and attention to a boy each week are qualities that many decent men possess - it's just that more men in Hamilton need to know there are boys waiting for their lives to be bettered in this way.
The local dad of three says it is simply an awareness building exercise and the growth after only a few months of the operation in Hamilton is very encouraging.
"Big Buddy launched in the Waikato a year ago, and we were matching boys with mentors by Christmas. I'm so encouraged by the response from Hamilton communities, but currently interest from mums and carers in finding a Big Buddy for their boys has outstripped our stock of available mentors."
Hamilton currently has six Little Buddies waiting.
McFadden asks men who hear about Big Buddy and want to know more to simply pick up the phone and ask, visit https://www.bigbuddy.org.nz, or check out https://www.facebook.com/BigbuddyNZ/ and leave a message.
