Hi, I’m Scotty Prince, proud Kalkadoon man from the Mount Isa region up there in Northwest Queensland. Former NRL player, played for 16 years, and now doing some work in our local communities, and also some coaching with the NRLW, the women’s program. I think it’s everyone’s responsibility to have a chat to young people and children about respect, whether it’s a coach, school teacher, mum, dad, Uncle, Aunty. I think the conversations are always open about what respect looks like. The reason why I wanted to support the Stop It at The Start campaign is that I’m very passionate about, you know, respect towards everyone in the community, especially our women in our lives. I have two young daughters who I want to be a perfect example of that. I want them to realise, you know what respect is, and not accept anything less than being respected as a woman – but respected in community.
Coaches play a massive role in teaching our kid’s respect. So many children come to training from all parts of life, and everyone’s different in their own way. In terms of sport, everyone’s at a different level as well. So, it’s not about making fun of others. But respecting where they’re at, that’s a part of the coach is to bring all that in together and making everyone on the same page and the same level. You know, you’ve got them at the palm of your hands, and you need to show them, you know, what respect looks like. Not only accepting other footy players, but also other elements of the game; whether that’s other coaches, opposition, referees decisions.
Talking to the coaches about showing respect to young women, I think it’s really, really important. If you hear, you know, remarks at training, it’s about stopping training and sitting down and having a conversation about it and it’s really, really important to nip it in the bud straight away and raising awareness about showing respect to our women and girls. I think community has a massive role teaching our young people and children respect. They see and hear and listen to what people say and do, and whatever is accepted when they’re young and that will flow on into their teenage adult life. So, it’s really, really important that we get them at the start. Being a proud Aboriginal man, I’m very passionate about this, because, you know, you’re part of something bigger. You’re part of a community that’s enriched in respecting country, respecting people and I think it’s something that’s built inside you already as part of your DNA. I draw a lot of inspiration through myself as a father, myself as an uncle, myself as a brother and also a coach. I draw inspiration from our culture, from our Elders to pass down to the next generation.
