NRL star Ben Hannant visits Port Moresby Hospital
The former Australian Kangaroos and Queensland State of Origin representative, who has joined North Queensland Cowboys for the 2015 season, met around 100 children in the hospital’s paediatric wards during a weekend visit to Papua New Guinea facilitated by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Hannant handed out rugby league gifts to children in the hospital’s acute and chronic care wards, including those being treated for tuberculosis and malnutrition.
“It was a bit emotional actually,” the 29-year-old NRL star admitted. “I’ve got five kids of my own and just to see these kids doing it tough, but also seeing the smiles on their faces, it makes you appreciate everything you’ve got. It’s great to see that we’re bringing a little bit of happiness to them and their families at this tough time of year, so I’m very blessed to be here.
“Last time I was in Papua New Guinea I was playing footy so I didn’t get to do much community work, but this time I’m here with the Church, so it’s great to be able to give back to a community that gives so much to rugby league.
“The people here are very loving and kind. Obviously it’s a totally different lifestyle to what it is in Australia, and to see the hardships that they have and seeing them always get up with a smile and do their best, it makes you realise that you don’t have to have everything in life to be happy.” Hannant also hosted a reading session in the Buk bilong Pikinini children’s library at PMGH and read an NRL-themed book to a small group of children.
“At the start they weren’t too sure what it was about but a couple of pages in they worked out it was all about rugby league and they loved it,” he said. “I always love reading books with my kids so it’s great to be able to do it with the PNG children.”
PMGH Chief Executive Officer Grant Muddle said the hospital was delighted to receive a Christmas visit from one of the NRL’s most popular players.
"It is warming that PMGH continues to receive great support from all, including visitors from abroad, and this is the reward for the good work the employees of PMGH are putting in to deliver 'Better Health’,” Muddle said. Hannant’s visit to PMGH caps a busy year for League Bilong Laif, which improves education outcomes for children through rugby league.
In 2014 the program has delivered rugby league-related on-field and in-classroom activities to nearly 17,000 children in 31 schools across three provinces (National Capital District, East New Britain Province and Eastern Highlands Province), and provided training to over 300 school teachers.
The program is supported by the Australian Government and delivered by the NRL. In 2015 the program will expand to include the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, and aims to reach 50,000 children and 500 teachers by mid-2016.
PNG Today/Post Courier
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