THE TEAM BEHIND THE TEAM: DAWSON ARAMOANA

Dawson Aramoana has a simple philosophy in life.

Give everything a go. Try new things, help each other out, say “yes” whenever you can.

It’s this attitude that saw him land at the door of the Burleigh Bears in 2012, following a quick “yes” to a question from a friend.

And 13 years later, the dedicated Aramoana is still at the club, still saying “yes”.

“That’s just me,” the Level 2 trainer said.

“I’m all about giving it a go. Always give everything a go. You never know what will happen until you try something.

“I like helping people. You have to try and help. If they need a hand, I’ll give them a hand.”

Formerly a volunteer with Runaway Bay Seagulls – where his daughter, Sade, was playing before she ruptured her ACL – Aramoana was asked to come across to Burleigh when a young Karina Brown advocated for the club to introduce their first ever women’s team.

With the support of CEO Damian Driscoll, former player Tahnee Norris and team manager, Vanessa Rogers, Brown was able to get the team off the ground and Rogers reached out to Aramoana.

“She asked me, ‘what are you doing next year?’,” he said.

“I said, ‘I don’t know, I’ll see what happens,’ and she said, ‘why don’t you come to Burleigh with me?’

“I just said, ‘okay!’ and I came here and they started a team and I was helping out and I was enjoying it.

“It’s been unbelievable. From the time I first started to now, it has changed a lot… Watching the girls progress … all the ones I’ve known, so many have gone to play in the NRLW, or for New Zealand, Australia, PNG, Fiji… it’s amazing to see.”

Aramoana – who is also uncle to Burleigh products Zahara and Chante Temara – has worn many hats in his time at the club.

From LeagueSafe to first aider to Level 1 trainer and now Level 2, he is always there with a helping hand.

But perhaps one of the most crucial roles he tries to play is that in making young female athletes feel comfortable in the sport and at the club.

Helping out this year with the Harvey Norman Under 17s, Aaramoana knows how important it is to keep the girls engaged.

And having also lost his niece and former Burleigh women’s player Jamie Graham to mental health, Aramoana wants to be the best supporter he can be for anyone and everyone who needs it.

“I enjoy it, poking fun at them and seeing the smile on their faces,” he said.

“I make fun of the girls and get smart with them. From there, we just have fun. For me, it’s just natural. I have a cheeky attitude towards people.

“Once they crack that little smile, you know you’ve got them. Even the coaching staff, even Damo. It’s all fun. That’s how I put across myself.

“As (former women’s coach) Roy (Leoni) says, once you get a rapport with the girls, they will start to enjoy the game.

“I tell the girls, ‘If you have any problems, you don’t have to talk to me. But anybody else, talk to somebody.’

“My personality is to make everything happy. Just be cheeky.”

After 13 years with the club, Aramoana knows his time will come to an end only when one thing happens – his beloved wife says so.

His greatest supporter, Aramoana says he couldn’t do what he does without his wife, Donna, and he makes sure that during the off-season, he dedicates all his time to her, their three children, Sade, Trey and Jordan, and their grandchildren, Nyah, River and Nikau.

They’re the reason he’s able to give so much back to rugby league.

“I give thanks to my wife for giving me that chance,” he said.

“We know during the league season, that’s all I do. After that, it’s only about her and I and the kids and now my grandchildren.

“I’ll go until my wife tells me that’s enough. At the moment, it’s good.”