News

Heppell visits India

Thursday, 20 October 2011
Staff writers for essendonfc.com.au
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Essendon young gun Dyson Heppell recently returned from a trip to India as a part of the Red Dust Role Model Tour. Over the next week, you can follow his incredible journey via a daily diary from his life changing trip to the sub-continent.

Dyson's diary:

"The seven day trip to India was an incredible experience. On our travels we saw many weird & wonderful things, amazing places and cultural experiences. We also witnessed first-hand the very real challenges faced by a third world country.

Until last month I had not travelled outside of Australia, so India has been a great way to start my love of international travel. This has been a brilliant way to top off an amazing year in my life. This time last year I was living at home with my parents in Leongatha, still completing VCE and never travelled anywhere overseas!

I keep pinching myself that I was drafted to the Bombers and I have already enjoyed many opportunities since arriving at the club both on and off the field.

Our trip was part of Red Dust Role Model tour where travelled with our GLoBALL program partners from Cricket Victoria. Other Red Dust ‘Role Models ‘ on the tour included Victorian Bushranger Bryce McGain & former Australian player and cricket Victoria CEO Tony Dodemaide, Will Minson from the Western Bulldogs and Australian of the Year, former Olympic Sailor and keen bomber supporter -Simon McKeon.

The trip highlighted a number of things for me:

1. India is an amazing place and I want to travel more and experience as much of the world and other cultures as possible.

2. How incredibly hardworking, resilient and happy the average Indian person is.

3. I have a much greater appreciation how lucky I am to live in one of the best countries in the world in Australia and to play sport professionally at the Essendon Football Club

I apologise in advance if I overuse the following words- incredible, amazing, spectacular, mind blowing and use lots of exclamation marks. India will do that to you!"

Day One - Saturday 7th October

We left Melbourne on the Saturday morning after the Crichton Medal. I didn’t get a lot of sleep the night before but was very much looking forward to the trip. Nick Hannett, the club's Community Manager and I flew out of Melbourne at 11am on a new A380 airbus to Singapore (7hrs).

The Singapore Airport was incredible. It was spotless and very, very big. We had a bite to eat and caught the connecting flight ( 5hrs) to New Delhi where we would stay for two nights.

We landed in New Delhi at 10pm and from the minute we stepped foot on Indian soil we knew we were in for an amazing time. There were Army personal everywhere at the airport carrying AK47 rifles the noise and traffic outside was ‘full on’.

The trip from the airport to the hotel took about 40 minutes and we got to witness firsthand the chaos of driving in India.

There appeared to be no road rules, everyone beeps their horn all of the time and driving on the right side of the road is not always compulsory!

Somehow it works and I learnt very quickly that Indian’s have very good spatial awareness and are very patient drivers.

Click here to learn more about Essendon's Multicultural Programs.

PLAYER PROFILE: Dyson Heppell

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If there's a place in the world more chaotic & amazing in simple day to day life than India I'd be surprised. All senses can be blessed & insulted within a few metres. But the people are always kind & happy & the culture & landscapes are breathtaking. An incredible place that you need to see to truely understand. Great start to Heppells global adventures.

- David Mitchell (posted 20/10/2011 5:17:52 AM)

Goin under the radar Hepps!

- Brad Scarr (posted 20/10/2011 6:09:05 AM)

heps the 80's rang they want there shorts back. Then again youll need extra pairs in india.

- Jeddy Telescourt (posted 20/10/2011 6:09:53 AM)

Good work, Dyson! Just be careful what you eat over there, don't want you to get a case of the Delhi Dash!

- Peter Gassner (posted 20/10/2011 6:23:24 AM)

It must have been one amazing journey Hep, and a great idea for young players to get a realistic perspective of the real world. Hope you never lose that sense of wonder, and congratulations on your success. We are proud of our mighty club, and proud of you and the way you conduct yourself.

- Graeme Blore (posted 20/10/2011 9:09:00 AM)

There really is something different about this kid. The way he speaks when interviewed. This trip to India, his involvement at the Moto GP. I think he will be to the future what Hird was to the 90's and 00's, and what Tim Watson was to the 70's and 80's. I think he will be the youthful, marketable face of Essendon. Good work, Dyson.

- Wesley Hull (posted 20/10/2011 9:14:58 AM)

good on you hepps!! this is the reason why i am so proud of supporting EFC, since i moved here from India i have always supported EFC and will always do so for my life.

- Ekansh Bhambhani (posted 20/10/2011 10:01:17 AM)

The kid can write as well as play. Good work, Dyson. Soak it all up. The world's a marvelous place, and its your oyster.

- alec shiffman (posted 20/10/2011 10:01:22 AM)

What a great experience for a young man growing up in the crazy world of professional football. This will certainly bring him back down to earth and make him realise how lucky he is, but then that is what travelling overseas can do for you.

- Paul Hobbs (posted 20/10/2011 10:02:51 AM)

I have just come back from the Murry river and read all the posts, bad luck about Caddy. But those shorts remind me of split enz on countdown. good on ya Hepz see the world because its your oyster mate. And Bomber fans change is coming. Well spoken to all ,GO MARY TOOVEY

- Stefanos Yannoukas (posted 20/10/2011 10:17:55 AM)

Wesley, well said. I agree. Dyson has a presence about him that sets him apart. Qualities that tend to be innate in a person. How exciting for you Dyson, definitely a life changing experience me thinks. Stay safe, healthy & above all enjoy.

- Gail Taylor (posted 20/10/2011 10:50:01 AM)

Heppell Your Incredible! :-)

- Jamie Muscatel (posted 20/10/2011 10:57:27 AM)

Hepp, I'd much prefer a diary from the footy trip!!

- steven hosking (posted 20/10/2011 11:30:46 AM)

I had the pleasure of welcoming Hepp back to Australia from his trip to India, he seems to have time for everyone, just like he does on the field, and is the most down to earth young bloke you'd ever say hello to. Keep it up mate and "Go get 'em next year"!

- Kon Stefanopoulos (posted 20/10/2011 11:39:06 AM)

How refreshing to hear a young fella admit that we in Australia are exceptionally lucky at our good fortune, just as we Bomber fans are fortunate to have Dyson on our list...

- Dennis Green (posted 20/10/2011 12:47:12 PM)

Make Heppell the Vice Captain effective immediately.

- al Catraz (posted 20/10/2011 1:16:36 PM)

Don't make him vice captain. let him just play and concentrate on that. No extra pressure is needed just yet. A couple of years maybe.

- Michael Walters (posted 20/10/2011 1:55:39 PM)

I want to read the full diary... IS the EI going to upload the whole thing?

- Rhedyn Milecki (posted 20/10/2011 4:31:15 PM)

Next visit might check out Uttarkashi, Rishikesh and Bodhgaya. B. Gita Ch III: Do your own natural duty with the motive of setting others on the path to duty and keep mental poise in the midst of battle by offering the fruits of your actions to eternity.

- Thomas Faunce (posted 20/10/2011 5:30:53 PM)

I lived 2 years in Delhi some years ago, and it's amazing how Dyson's picked up the essence of the country in a few short days. He obviously sees the world through the same sharp eyes he reads the footy with.

- Ian Harrop (posted 20/10/2011 6:15:25 PM)