Oasis Magazine - Cairns & Tropical North Queensland Issue 31 - Aug | Sep 2019 | Page 30

BILLY’S BUDDIES Billy’s Buddies is the brainchild of Billy Slater - former Melbourne Storm, Queensland, and Australian Rugby League superstar. Billy’s Buddies is a non-contact ball sports program for boys and girls ages 2 to 6 years old. The program began in Brisbane in 2016 and has since grown to more than 280 locations across Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast, the Gold Coast, Sydney, and most recently, Cairns. Billy’s Buddies, written by Billy Slater in conjunction with an Early Childhood Teacher and Exercise Sports Scientist, is not just about Rugby League. It’s about learning the fundamentals of all ball sports in a fun, safe, and exciting environment. Each week, Billy’s Buddies runs theme-based sessions that focus on developing children’s social skills while also teaching them the fundamentals of not only Rugby League, but ball sports in general. It is the goal of Billy’s Buddies to empower all children who participate in their program by assisting with 30 | www.oasismagazine.com.au developing their confidence, self-esteem, hand-eye coordination, and gross motor skills. Billy’s Buddies wants children to become great team players and learn the important of teamwork, just like Billy himself. The program is offered across childcare centres as an extracurricular activity to complement their learning plan and to children of the general public through the Billy’s Buddies Park Session and Junior Rugby League Club programs. Billy’s Buddies was recently awarded the Best National Pre-Schooler Activity at the 2019 What’s On 4 Kids Awards, and in 2018 was named runner-up as the Best National Toddler Activity. Kate Macrae and her husband Andrew Fey started the Cairns franchise in February 2019. Kate has 10 years experience working in junior sport, having previously worked for Surf Life Saving and Little Athletics Queensland. Kate and Andrew complement each