Far away from the alleged infidelity of English soccer star John Terry, the alleged drug trafficking of Geelong AFL player Mathew Stokes and the court battles awaiting league star Brett Stewart and Wallabies Kurtley Beale and Quade Cooper, we have the Canterbury Bulldogs.

Several years ago after a scandal of their own, they were known as the ‘Dirty Dogs’.

But the club has changed.

Long gone are the days of drunken debauchery on pre-season trips.

Instead they partook in countless school visits and a trip to the hospital during their trip to Dubbo this week.

They spread the message of healthy eating, hard work, getting outside and playing, and above all, community - getting involved with the people around you.

The kind of change through which they have gone can only come from the top, and that is where our city has reason to smile.

Because it’s one of ours that must take part of the credit. Along with outstanding CEO Todd Greenberg, a lot of the credit for the club’s turnaround rests with Dubbo’s own Andrew Ryan.

The club’s captain leads from the front when it comes to community work with his various community trips coupled with his involvement with the Andrew Ryan Cup junior competition.

In an age where football players suffer under intense scrutiny and where it would be easy to forget their roots, Ryan stands out as a true professional both on and off the field.