Hindmarsh, a ClubSAFE ambassador, visited Pius X Aboriginal Corporation on Wednesday to meet with locals, have a feed and share his story. Heart on his sleeve, Hindmarsh spoke openly about his long battle with a gambling addiction in the hope of helping others.

“I’m not anti-gambling,” he clarified from the get-go.

“I’m from a dairy farm in Robertson in the Southern Highlands. I moved to Moss Vale when I was 18 and I was put into a unit across the road from the Parramatta Leagues Club.

“The guys I was living with, none of us were great cooks so it was mostly green cordial and two minute noodles. So we started going to the leagues club for most of our meals,” he said.

A quick flutter on the pokies one day returned $30, he was hooked from there he said.

“As my contracts [with the Parramatta Eels] got bigger and better I was starting to put more in, to a point where I’d be putting through $3000 a day sometimes.”

He estimates he gambled away over $300,000 in an eight-year bout.

Now married with four kids, Hindmarsh said his partner helped him turn his life around.

“If I lost I didn’t care and I’d always be telling stories trying to hide it.

“After a while I sought professional help. It’s okay to stick your hand up for help.

“You don’t have to have lost everything to have a problem,” he said.

While in town Hindmarsh also stopped by Moree Secondary College before finishing up in the afternoon with a chat to the Moree Boomerangs rugby league side.

“I enjoy coming out to places like here and asking questions and talking to people,” he said.

Warruwi Gambling Help, ClubsNSW, Anglicare and Pius X Aboriginal Corporation combined to host the day.

“The day’s been amazing. Nathan has been so generous to share his story with the honesty and openness he has,” Pius X counsellor Annabelle Simpson said.

“I think the hard-core facts he’s shared has spoken to all of us in some way,” she said.