Shannon Walker

In early 2007 BCU was named the official community banking sponsor of the Jetstar Gold Coast Titans , and BCU Titans Junior Development Program was established. The program was set up to assist the development of junior rugby league and to promote teamwork and healthy lifestyles among young players.

During its first football 2007 season, the BCU Titans Junior Development Program was actively involved in more than a dozen junior competitions and undertook an extensive schedule of school and club visits across northern New South Wales and south-east Queensland.

In October, indigenous player, Shannon Walker became the inaugural BCU Titans Junior Player of the Year. Only 18 years old, already a role model for other young players and with some very impressive achievements behind him, Shannon’s rugby league career looks bright indeed.

Shannon grew up in Kyogle, near Lismore one of eight children. He followed his older brothers into sport and started playing rugby league with the Kyogle Turkeys when he was five.

In 2006 Shannon moved to the Gold Coast to further his professional league career but still maintains close links with his home town where his father, Michael Walker is a well-known indigenous artist. Visiting home on the weekends to play first grade for Kyogle, Shannon also helps the family’s business, making didgeridoos and clap sticks which his father completes by painting with artworks.

Shannon has achieved a great deal in a short amount of time, including being selected for the 2006 Queensland Schoolboys team and 2006 Australian Schoolboys Tour of Britain. The team came home undefeated with Shannon named Man of the Match in the first game against Wales.

In 2007, Shannon made the Queensland Country team, won the Courier Mail’s ‘Best and Fairest of the Year’ and, with the Tweed Heads Seagulls, won the 2007 Queensland Cup Premiership.

Shannon is currently employed by the BCU Titans Junior Development Program , while at the same time completing a Certificate III TAFE course in community recreation. Shannon enjoys working with children and has, in 2007, visited schools, junior league clubs and numerous other community organisations to encourage all children to realise their full potential.

If you want to help others like Shannon achieve their goals and support rugby league junior development in your community, click here to find out more about BCU Titans Community Saver Accounts.

Shannon opening his new BCU Titans community saver account at BCU’s Bundall branch