Olam’s village gets gift

AN Australian rugby league fan was so impressed with Melbourne Storm star Justin Olam that he organised a fundraiser to buy a television so people in the centre’s village could watch him play.
Chris Tomlin raised A$1,500 (about K3,800) after seeing pictures of people in Gon village, Chimbu, crowded around an old, tiny TV to watch their hometown hero in action.
“There’s so many people, as fans, who say, ‘I wish I could give something back to our team outside of just paying a membership and being a fan in the stand,’” he said.
“I figured putting a fundraiser together to get a TV was probably the best way I could do that.”
With the help of Olam’s Melbourne-based brother, Tomlin used the money to buy a 55-inch TV, which Olam’s parents picked up last Friday.
Communications to Gon are patchy so he’s yet to hear what the locals’ reaction has been.
Tomlin said Olam’s humility had endeared him to fans. – ABC
“He doesn’t even really consider himself as this mega-superstar that a lot of people see him as,” he said.
“He still just plays his part, he does what he needs to do and he is just so humble about it.” – ABC