"I would have been dead by 20 if it wasn't for rugby league. Like a lot of disadvantaged Aboriginal people I grew up in a housing commission area in Sydney's La Peruse where I witnessed violence, poverty and dysfunction," Roach said.

"Unfortunately, I did not have any strong role models as a child but I was able to survive through my stubbornness and my love of sport, particularly rugby league. So I see it as my role to pass on my knowledge and support to troubled kids.

"I can relate to them because I am a product of their lifestyle."

Roach is 42, a father of five but a father figure to hundreds more. Standing at an imposing 188cm tall and weighing 120kg, he is larger than life in so many ways - yet he shuns the limelight, preferring to go about his work quietly, changing one life at a time.

The proud Aboriginal man has an impressive footballing CV as a player, but it is off the field where he has excelled, achieving almost legendary status in the Raymond Terrace league fraternity, particularly amongst young Aboriginal people.

He has become much more than a coach. He is a mentor and guiding light for disengaged youth, for the lost and the misunderstood, for those who have fallen through the cracks and those who are cast out by a society and education system that cannot tolerate cultural differences.

Because Brooke Roach was that child.

"When I was growing up a lot of my mates who didn't play footy are now locked up or dead Footy helped me mature, it gave me responsibility and taught me about trust, about working together for the team good."

Team bonding is a profound experience for a child who has come from a broken background.

Roach was able to take those footballing lessons into his profession as Aboriginal education officer at Hunter River High School, where he is highly respected among students and staff.

As a kid growing up in Le Peruse - and later in Woodberry and Raymond Terrace - Roach says he was always told that "you will never do such and such" because of his aboriginality. But this only stiffened his resolve, "it motivated me to prove them wrong".

"When I started coaching and wanted to help kids I was told that I couldn't, so I completed a five-year course to become qualified. Many of the kids at Hunter River couldn't play footy because they were always in trouble, so I intervened because I could relate to their circumstances, I had walked in their shoes. The beauty of team sport is that it can turn kids around. It helps them find a connection, something to fill in those spaces, and makes them feel good about contributing."

Roach has lost count of the number of teams he has coached. Just this year there were three - the Raymond Terrace first grade men's, an under 15 girls side and his son's under 10s team. "I'm at the training field every day, but I am lucky that I do get some great support from the community."

The Port's Heroes of Sport:

He soon realised that transport was a problem for many kids, so he purchased a 12-seater bus. If someone needed a pair of boots, he would buy or organise a new one. The bus is now used to transport more than just football kids - he takes Raymond Terrace families on shopping trips and outings, fishing - whenever and wherever it's needed.

He has taken many an angry juvenile under his wing and into his home. Today there are young Terrace adults who can thank Roach for turning their lives around.

"I've been with kids when they got their L-plates or licence, or bought their first car, or got their first apprenticeship or their first job."

Roach says not every story is a success. There are disappointments and occasionally he has to resort to some tough love.

"There have been times when I have had to caution a youth about a decision or use strong language to get them away from bad influencers."

And to think that as a child growing up he unknowingly suffered with chronic suppurative otitis media (not uncommon in young Aboriginal people), which severely impacted his ability to hear.

It meant he struggled in the classroom but he is not one for excuses.

"It was very embarrassing but I thought it was normal."

Even now after a number of operations he is hard of hearing.

Roach excelled as a youngster in athletics, where he represented the state in middle distance running, but rugby league was his priority.

He made Newcastle Knights rep teams, was invited for a trial with the Sydney Roosters under the guidance of the great Artie Beetson but was forced to abandon any dreams of playing NRL and return home for family reasons.

His passion for the game has never waned, moving from a speedy centre in his junior days to a no-nonsense front-row forward and becoming the team enforcer. He still plays despite having endured serious shoulder and knee injuries.

He has captained and coached multiple Raymond Terrace Magpies and Tea Gardens sides, where he has become a life member, and played and coached in a number of Indigenous teams in both NSW and Queensland.

He has also taken out a number of Indigenous and Deadly awards, which Roach says he is proud of, but it's obvious they are not the most important things in his life right now.

He hopes (COVID-pending) to be coaching again next season, and the season after that. Because while ever there are young people needing a little guidance, a bit of friendly advice, Roach will be there for them.

We want to find the people in the Port's sporting community who deserve the spotlight, whether it's a star athlete, a quiet achiever, a dedicated volunteer. In an email titled 'Sport Nomination', send the details including name, sport/club, a bit about the person you're nominating and a photo to portstephens@austcommunitymedia.com.au.