Tweed Seagulls RLFC Visit Tabulam Public School

Last week, our team had the pleasure of visiting Tabulam Public School to spend some quality time with the students. Tabulam, affectionately known as Rio, is a terrific little community located on the southwestern edge of the Northern Rivers, just below the range before you head up to Tenterfield. It is where the Rocky River runs into the mighty Clarence River. This town is a true rugby league haven, renowned for its rugby league talent and the beloved Tabulam Turtle Divers team.

Many players who have donned the Tweed Seagulls RLFC jersey have strong ties to this close-knit community. Not only have we seen talent with links to Tabulam within our ranks, but the town has claims to players who have made their mark on the larger stage, including Billy Walker, Ryan Walker, Alby Torrens, Roy Bell, and Cody Walker, to name a few. As a club, we recognise and appreciate the significant contributions that communities like Tabulam make to our success.

The Principal of Tabulam Public School, Shaun Piccoli, hails from Casino, but it’s evident that Aunty Carmel McGrady is the heart and soul of the school. The staff at Tabulam Public School do an outstanding job, and the students are some of the most well-behaved and respectful we’ve encountered. This is a testament to the dedication of the school staff and the supportive families and community. It’s no surprise that the school’s attendance rates are well above the state average.

Our visit was organised in collaboration with Mr. Piccoli, with staff Nathan Peats, John Hutchinson, Shaun Davison, and Brad Birney all making the trip. We were also thrilled to have the legendary Preston Campbell and Gold Coast Titans’ Jaime Chapman join us, much to the delight of the students. The kids had plenty of tough questions for Nathan, Preston, and Jaime, and after a lively Q&A session, we conducted skill drills with the older students before enjoying a game of touch footy. The entire school then gathered for photos and autographs.

We were honoured to each receive two books from Aunty Carmel: a guide to turtle diving (binging) and a guide to catfishing (wajing). We look forward to putting our new skills to the test later this year when we pay another visit to Tabulam.