Members of the St. George Illawarra Dragons side visited the Year 5 and 6 classes as part of the 'Best You Can Be' initiative run by the club, which aims to educate children about health and social issues.

As part of the initiative, students received a school planner containing information on health, social and educational issues such as body image and eating nutritionally.

An invitation to implement the program in Griffith was extended to the program by Griffith's Department of Education Director David Lamb, who said the program compliments the educational curriculum taught by schools.

"It dovetails beautifully into what is taught at the schools and the PDHPE program," he said.

Dragons Community Officer Paul Everill was pleased that the program had been invited to Griffith.

"We're quite proud of that, that they've come to us to ask us to facilitate the program here," he said.

"One of the things we have learnt is that there are some disadvantages being in regional or country areas and we are only too happy to come along and help these schools.

"We are not trying to make them all into footballers, we're just helping teachers and parents get the right messages to kids."

Current Dragons player and former Griffith resident Takilele Katoa said it was special to return to the area she grew to call home in order to help spread a positive message to the younger generation.

"It just means a lot that the younger generation knows that they do have something to look forward to," she said.

Mr Everill said the club has initial plans to return to Griffith in the future to further extend the operation of the program.

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Griffith was one of two areas visited by the Dragons over Monday and Tuesday as part of the program, with the club also making a stop in Temora.

The 'Best You Can Be' program has been operating for five years throughout schools in the Illawarra, South Coast and St. George areas, operating in 45 schools and reaching more than 4000 students.

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