Whitelion Role Models:

Richard Tambling Richard Tambling is a talented mid-fielder and a damaging on-baler for the Richmond Football club. Picked up in the 2004 draft as a first round draft pick, now with 4 years experience at the highest level, his explosive speed and amazing ability to read the play Richard Tambling one to watch. Originally from Darwin he is a long way from home. He visits the young men from all three centres and has a quiet but cheeky persona. Richard is just as likely to be seen playing basketball or touch rugby with the young men as he is playing kick to kick.
Lynden Dunn After beginning with the Calder Cannons, Lynden was drafted to Melbourne Football Club. Playing at the highest level now for three years and more than 50 games. He has redefined himself on the wing and is a future leader of the club. Lynden spends his time with the younger men at PYRC when he gets time off training. As an older brother himself, relating to the young men in this way comes very naturally. The boys are often surprised when they find out Lynden is an AFL footballer as he carries no airs or ego with his quiet persona.
Shannon Winzer Shannon is a member of the Australian National Women’s Volleyball team and currently captains the Senior VIC State team in the Australian Volleyball League. Originally from Vancouver (Canada), Shannon has been playing a variety of sports from a very young age but it was volleyball that she chose to pursue and went on to play at the University of British Columbia in Canada. Upon graduation her love of travel took her backpacking across Europe until she settled in London, UK for a couple years where she played for Polonia Volleyball Club. In 2005 Shannon moved to Australia where she has been living ever since... but still has absolutely no idea about cricket!!!! Shannon visits the young people in both PYRC and MYJC and is equally at home running a movie night or a sports session.
Matt Rua After a stellar early NRL career, seeing him representing New Zealand and Melbourne Storm, Matt returned from three years away from the sport for twelve months before retiring to a job with the VRL as their Multicultural & Indigenous Rugby League Development Officer. Matt is quietly spoken and has an off field personality very different to his on field style. He mainly visits the boys in at MYJC and likes nothing better than a good challenge on the table tennis table.
Adilson Andrade de Melo Junior Junior is an explosive midfielder with great skill with the ball. He was recruited to Villa Nova in Nova Lima – MG, Brazil at the age 18 and played at the top level professional league for four years before beginning university. In 2007 Junior moved to Australia to continue his studies in sports science and is currently playing with Victorian Divisional One team, the Bulleen Lions FC. Junior is currently connecting with the young men in all three YJ Centres teaching skills of the world game to the young men.
Sedale Threatt Born and raised on the NBA circuit in America, Sedale Threatt Jr. knows basketball better than most know their own way home. A point guard for the Melbourne Tigers ABA side, he is waiting his turn to move into the NBL. Sedale shares his skill, speed and knowledge with the youth of Melbourne coaching with 5 Star Basketball Digest. Sedale found his own way through college with a basketball scholarship, left the states for oz a few years ago and has settled down in Melbourne. His flashy style on the court at MYJC, and his relaxed southern drawl, attracts the young men to this gentle and caring sportsman. He is sharp with a card trick, but hasn’t quite picked up the skills to bowl a cricket ball or kick a drop punt well yet.
Clinton Benjamin This young dynamic footballer drafted by Carlton in 2007, he spent 2 injury prone years with Carlton’s VFL side Northern Bullants. Leaving Carlton Clinton hopes to make his way back to an AFL contract through proving himself at VFL level. Originally from outback Broome, he was given a scholarship to an elite school in Perth, Hale, at a young age, because of his success in the class room and his athletic abilities. Clinton is fast; at 192 centimetres tall he can do 100 meters in less than 11 seconds. He has played for Australia in Ireland, in the under 17’s international rules series. A quiet but not shy guy who is regular in all three centres.
Tania Luiz Born in India, Tania moved to Australia from Oman in 1992 when she was just 9, and only started playing badminton three years later. Tania is a black belt in karate and only took up badminton after breaking her brother's finger. She went on to represent Australia at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, reaching the round of 16 before being eliminated. Tania has seven national titles to her name and represented Australia in the Beijing Olympics. Tania is currently part way through a Psych/Marketing double degree at Victoria University. Tania started visiting the young women at PYRC in November and is happy to engage the young women in sporting pursuits as much as any other activity.
Lukas Markovic Lukas Markovic has been a regular at Whitelion since the start of 2009. Working with the young men at MYJC and Malmsbury. He grew up in Ringwood, Melbourne and has been playing football for as long as he can remember. This passion led him to getting drafted with Hawthorn in 2005. Not long after the draft, Lucas broke his ankle and spent more than 6 months recovering. Delisted at the end of the season, Lucas never gave up on his dream and came back to play and co-captain VFL side the Box Hill Hawks. Lukas recently nominated for the AFL draft and was selected by the Western Bulldogs.
Jake Edwards Jake joined Whitelion at the end of 2009. Jake comes from football pedigree with his father grand father and great grandfather all playing AFL. His cousin Shane O’Bree currently plays with Collingwood. Jake was drafted to Carlton at the end of 2005 and played a handful of games around injury and playing with the Northern Bullants, before being leaving the club at the end of 2009. Jake runs his own personal training business and works with Whitelion across several programs.