Titans second installment of cultural evening a success
The Gold Coast Titans hosted their second ever club-wide cultural evening on Monday night and if the smiles on the faces of those in attendance are anything to go by, the night was a roaring success.
With over 400 people in attendance at Glow Church in Robina the night saw a mix of performances across multiple countries and cultures, including;
- Karem Bau (Torres Strait Islander)
- Fuata Mogo Nei (Niuean Group)
- Kings Siva Academy (Samoa)
- Mamana Academy (Tonga)
- Orana Dance Group (Cook Islands)
Beyond the dances and keynotes from CEO Steve Mitchell, Chairman Dennis Watt and a stirring welcome to country from Uncle John Graham (Kombumerri Elder), another highlight was the panel of NRLW players Karina Brown, Niall Guthrie-Williams and Taliah Fuimaono as they shared their own cultural journeys.
A truly unique night on the Titans event calendrer, the cultural evening sees NRL, NRLW and Netball players involved in planning and performances across the event.
And with over 55% of the Titans' elite squads being of Pasifika and/or First Nations heritage, nights like these are cherished as a time to share culture among the wider Titans family.
NRL and NRLW players Aaron Booth, Georgia Hale, Josiah Pahulu, Niall Williams-Guthrie, Sienna Lofipo and Destiny Sinapati even joined in with the Kings Academy performance, which was a particular highlight of the evening.
The night started, however, with the most important part when you have nearly 100 elite athletes in the room - food.
A mix of traditional Indigenous and Pasifika food setting the tone for an evening of sharing culture, family and friendship.
The event is pulled together by the Titans' 'Cultural Collective' a group who meet regularly to ensure the Titans are welcoming and celebrating all of the diverse cultures that make up the Gold Coast Titans, with this event being the landmark night each year.
In the spirit of family and togetherness that summed up the night, it was also a chance to raise funds for injured Future Titans Joseph Pouniu as he recovers from a serious spinal injury. Discover more here.
