Killalea's Gift to Indigenous Youth

Initiatives for local Indigenous youth will be given a $1,200 boost after a surf-board, personally painted by Killalea Park Manager Nathan Cattell, was won by a local surfer, Talon (12) in a raffle held at The Farm Café over the weekend.

The board, once coveted by popstar Jessica Mauboy, is a masterpiece of indigenous art and raised much-needed funds for the Shellharbour Aboriginal Community Association (SAYCA), who provide education and lifestyle guidance, as well as advice on matters such as health, safe sex and domestic violence to members of the local Indigenous community aged between 12 and 24 years of age.

In late 2016 Entity Surfboards graciously donated one of their boards to SACYA to utilise as part of their fundraising efforts, which was passed on to Nathan to paint and be auctioned off to kick-start surfing programs for disadvantaged Indigenous youth.

Nathan, a renowned local artist, said he spent two months dedicated to creating a unique artwork on the blank canvas, ultimately deciding on a depiction of turtles travelling up the coast to breed.

“We displayed the board for months as the main centrepiece at Killalea's The Farm Café where it generated much interest before a local raffle was held,” Nathan said.

“I'm so happy a young local surfer won the raffle and that the money raised will go to a worthy cause.

After The Illawarra Mercury ran a story on the surfboard last year interest in purchasing the colourful board skyrocketed, with Aussie popstar Jessica Mauboy being just one of many keen buyers. However, the decision was made by Nathan and Café Licensee Jo to kick-start a local raffle for the board rather than selling it off, with the hope that it would stay within the local community.

Nathan said he was proud to see a happy grommet with a brand-new surfboard, who would hopefully be seen out at The Farm and Mystics getting barrelled in the coming weeks.

“I was stoked to be given this artistic challenge by SAYCA and the opportunity to give back to a group who do so much for our local youth,” Nathan said.

“I never expected that there would be such wide interest in my little project but I'm incredibly happy with the end result. I look forward to Killalea continuing to work with the local Indigenous community in future.”

Killalea is part of the South Coast Holiday Parks group, which is managed by the NSW Crown Holiday Parks Trust (NSWCHPT). With 36 parks in idyllic locations across NSW, NSWCHPT also oversees the operations of North Coast Holiday Parks (NCHP) and Inland Waters Holiday Parks (IWHP).

NSWCHPT CEO Steve Edmonds said Nathan's charitable actions signified the importance of giving back to the communities in which parks are located.

“It is great to hear about Nathan's charitable initiatives and involvement with SAYCA and I was pleased to see that Sunday's raffle was a success,” Mr Edmonds said.

“The Trust prides itself on its involvement with local communities and I look forward to seeing the funds raised by Nathan and Jo create a real change for at risk youth. Who knows, perhaps this program may even produce the next big surfing star?”

For more information on all of the coastal or inland holiday parks managed by the Trust visit www.southcoastparks.com.au, www.northcoastparks.com.au and www.inlandwaters.com.au.