Perth Leadership Development Camp
June 19-22 - Point Walter
Department of Sport and Recreation campsite, Bicton

Thirty four students and five staff from the Goldfields schools of Kalgoorlie, Laverton, Norseman and Esperance participated in the first Perth up4it Leadership Development camp of 2009.

Activities ranged from soccer and basketball skill development sessions coupled with flying fox instruction, to team building games at laser tag, career building at the Careers and Employment Expo, learning new skills with ten pin bowling and ice skating and visits to the Perth Zoo, Scitech, WA Parliament and the highlight for most; the AFL football game at Subiaco Oval to see the Fremantle Dockers play against the Geelong cats.

Participants also got a taste of working and studying at university with presentations by Norilsk scholarship recipients from their communities (pictured below). Students were very interested in finding out how hard it was to juggle studying at university with working  but soon realised that there is plenty of support out there for indigenous scholarships and entrances to university, that the path is not always easy but a lot of fun and is one of the most rewarding experiences they should not miss.

2009 Camps
November 6-9 (Goldfields-Midwest)
November 16-19 (Pilbara-Kimberley)

 

Leonora – June 9-10

Role Models
Ricky Grace (basketball)
Marcus Timmons (Basketball)
Lisa Archer (Grooming & Deportment)
Calvin Campbell (Music Appreciation)

The visit to Leonora visit was great as the role models teamed up with the local police to deliver the program.

We enjoy teaming up with the local police in some towns as this is a non threatening way for them to engage with the kids in their community.

The students really enjoyed D.J. Kyte’s music appreciation workshop and presentation (pictured left). 

It was good to hear Kyte explain to the kids that even in this profession you have to be able to read and count music and the beats. He further explained that music is really hi tech and it helps to have as much I.T. knowledge as possible as well.

Gavin Isbister from the Goldfields Department of Sport and Recreation joined the crew and commented on his ‘surprise at how involved the boys were in the Grooming and Deportment sessions.  It's the same at all the communities we visit.  Lisa Archer (pictured applying face cream to a student, left) is extremely well versed at explaining the importance of your diet not only inside your body but also on the outside for your skin. She presents this in a way that the students really understand so they become engaged in the process.

Coming Up
August 10-12 Esperance-Norseman
September 14-18 Desert Dust Up (Program TBC)
November 6-9 Perth Leadership Camp

Tour Dates:
Term 1            March 31 – 3 April
Term 2            June 15-19

Role Models
Ricky Grace (Basketball)
Scott Chisholm (Football)
Casey Narrier (Athletics)
Isiah Victor (Basketball)
Marcus Timmons (Basketball)
Frances Clarke (Basketball)
Shannon McCann (Athletics)

The crew recognised some familiar faces on the trip to the Midwest and had a great time seeing everyone again.  We strive to use the same role models for the regions so that there is familiarity with the students and schools involved in the program.

The team were joined by Department of Sport and Recreation team members in football and athletics and teams were split up into two groups so all schools could be reached.  Frances proved her weight in gold as an accomplished basketballer and netballer, her enthusiasm for the kids from the lower schools was alive. The students received energy from her energetic workshops.

As all our presentations promote school attendance, it was brought to our attention in Mt Magnet by one of the teachers that a couple of the students had slipped in their attendance. The students in question attended the day of the activities from the role models and Marcus had a talk with them and they promised that they would focus more on getting to school. We look forward to finding out on the next visit if these students keep their word.

Coming Up
Week 8 Tour Sept 11-18
November 6-9 Perth Leadership Camp

Community BBQ – Yandeyarra, May 19

After-school a community BBQ with indigenous elders, parents, and the wider community was held for around 50 people. Activities included pool games, basketball with role models conducting presentations on school attendance, the up4it program, healthy lifestyle promotion integrated with anti-drugs and alcohol messages. This provided an ideal platform for role models to speak to outstanding or involved community members about potential for local leadership training and becoming a role model or training for certification.

Role models worked with the physical education, teaching staff and AIEO’s to deliver basketball skill development clinics/coaching sessions to Indigenous staff and students. Teaching staff are very willing and open to learning to new skills and joining in the tasks, presentations, motivational speeches, sporting or social activities.

Another highlight of their time here was the positive reinforcement within Ricky’s message regarding school attendance, attitude to education and appropriate behaviours. This was extremely valued by the teaching staff as it reinforces what we are trying to achieve at Marble Bar Primary School.

David Melling, Principal, Marble Bar Primary School

Coming Up
August 31-September 3 Karratha- Roeburne-Onslow
September 22-24 Marble Bar-Nullagine
November 16-19 Perth Leadership Camp

KIMBERLEY UPDATE AUGUST 2009

BALGO August 4
MULAN August 5
BILLILUNA August 6

Role Models:

Marcus Timmons (Perth Wildcats and Melbourne Tigers basketball)
Michelle Harding (Grooming and Deportment)
Amy Wiltshire/Brian Lloyd (Music Appreciation, Hip Hop Dance/DJ)

The remote east kimberley communities received their second community visit for 2009 from the role models up4it crew. Messages about the importance of healthy lifestyles, education and training, attending school regularly and leadership and teamwork were incorporated into the sessions at the schools and after-school in the communities.

BALGO August 4
Role models started the day with a morning tea welcome followed by a prayer session before programs commenced. Students then enjoyed a full day of sport, grooming and deportment and music appreciation. Members introduced themselves to the students as this was their first time visiting the region as they had been used to seeing Ricky Grace on the trips who last visited in June. The beauty and remoteness of the scenery and the kids enthusiasm spurred the team on to deliver engaging programs with healthy lifestyle messages. In between sessions the role models spoke at length on the importance of education and training, attending school regularly, healthy lifestyles, sports and physical activity, leadership, cooperation and teamwork. 75 students were in school over the two days and some were gearing up for a basketball tournament with one of the other outer lying schools and appreciated the expert coaching skills from Marcus Timmons who used to play for the Perth Wildcats and Melbourne Tigers.

MULAN August 5
When the role models arrive there's always more students at school than the day or week before, and this trip was no different. Thirty two (32) students turned up at school today. With some help from the students the role models swept and tidied up the basketball court before they could play as it had been damaged by fire and vandalism. Funds are urgently needed for a new court and BBQ area at the school so the kids can have somewhere to play and practice after school.

David Maskell, the PE teacher was the most enthusiastic and somehow knew all the stats on the Wildcats players including Ricky and Marcus but it is the Victorian football club of St Kilda which holds the school teacher and students heart. All are avid fans! The students wrote a letter to the club and Marcus will present it to one of the club players when he goes back home to Melbourne. The kids are so excited they want the players to visit next year.

Marcus shared with everyone is own upbringing from a small town in Chicago of only 1500 people. He also mentioned the reasons to eat the rights foods. At primary school Marcus was shorter than most kids but in high school he shot up to 6”8 then got noticed playing basketball and received a scholarship to University. He now has an degree in Education and is a PE teacher back home in Melbourne. The importance of staying at school was driven home so when he retired from basketball he had his education to fall back on.

Marcus (in yellow) puts students through a ball handling session.

BILLILUNA August 6
The community BBQ was a huge success as over 100 children and members of the community enjoyed the good food, music and basketball games by Marcus Timmons and the role models.

Michelle Harding conducted fun grooming and deportment workshops for the girls and the boys. Students were shown how personal hygiene and caring for the skin made them feel good inside and out while Marcus Timmons provided basketball clinics on the court he also talked about the Perth Leadership Camp in November and conducted presentations in the classrooms focusing on personal goals and careers and the importance of healthy lifestyles. The Dance and DJ duo Amy and Brian entertained students with their musical appreciation classes where children learnt to mix music on the ‘decks’ using various techniques and to count the beats. Role models impressed on the need for the children to attend school so they could learn new skills and one day could even become their own community role models.

The remote school visits ensure that all students are exposed to the program, not just Indigenous students or those achieving attendance levels. More importantly the visits secure a whole of community engagement with sports and extracurricular activity programs being held before and after school time allowing a platform for interaction between stakeholders students and community members.
Students enthusiastically and energetically participated in all the activities. The students would have happily stayed all afternoon, but with planes to catch the role models had to leave. After lots of hand shaking and thanks from the students and staff the repeated question was ‘Thanks, that was awesome when are you coming back?” The answer: not soon enough, we will be back again in 2010.

Up4it Program Overview
The primary objective of the up4it program is to facilitate and sustain a measurable increase in school attendance rates amongst Indigenous students in regional and remote areas of Western Australia.

The up4it program selects schools in remote regions that often miss out on opportunities to receive programs from elite sporting athletes.

Under the leadership of high profile Indigenous and non- Indigenous role models they provide much needed sports, leadership and coaching skills, grooming and deportment and music appreciation sessions whilst promoting healthy lifestyles and local mentors to the children of the regional and remote communities they visit.

CONTACT

RICKY GRACE
Chief Executive Officer
Role Models WA
Phn: 0405 404 096
rickygrace@rolemodelswa.com

HONI GRAF
Event Manager
Up4it Leadership Development Program
Phn: 0412 200 619
honi.graf@rolemodelswa.com

YORGAS BASKETBALL CLASSIC
June 18, 2009 

The YORGAS (Young Outspoken Responsible Girls at School) BASKETBALL CLASSIC is an invitation only basketball tournament run be the Clontarf Girls Academy. The tournament is designed to enhance the participation of young Indigenous AND non-Indigenous female students, as well as provide an opportunity for them to develop more of a competitive spirit within their respective teams. The tournament also serves as a valuable tool for reconciliation and as a celebration of young women coming together to compete towards a common goal.

Despite a difficult start to organization of the tournament, with teams slow to confirm and schools pulling out at the last minute, the five groups that did compete participated in an action-packed day with little time to rest. Teams included, Newton Moore Senior High School, Kalgoorlie Girls Academy, Rockingham SHS and Clontarf Girls Academy.

The Clontarf Girls Academy extended an invitation to parents and friends of the Academy to attend a morning tea and maybe catch a glimpse of the talent on display from all schools. A small number of parents and family members attended, as well as a variety of people from organizations the Clontarf Girls Academy has been working closely with throughout the year. Narelda Jacobs, Channel 10 News Anchor, also surprised the girls with a quick visit and caused a buzz when she sat on the bench with the girls.
The competition was fierce for selection in the Clontarf team; students were only chosen if they were doing well in all aspects of their schooling, including attendance, attitude, work ethic and task completion. The girls selected to represent Clontarf demonstrated great character and a willingness to compete, as well as a putting on a proud exhibition of who they were and who they were representing.

The team was led by our guest coach and parent, Richard Bourne. Richie, Assistant Coach for the Perth Redbacks WSBL led the girls to an easy victory over Rockingham in the grand final. Clontarf ran away eventual winners to become Champions of the Yorgas Classic for the 2nd year in a row.

At the conclusion of the day trophies and medallions were be awarded by Ricky Grace to the Championship team, Runners-Up and Fairest and Best for the tournament.

Congratulations to Clontarf students, Jeana Garlett, Jacinta Bourne and Stephanie Mooka who were selected in the All Star Team for the tournament.

Many teachers also expressed an interest in a girl’s basketball tournament earlier in the school year because they were unable to find a suitable competition to prepare their teams for the State Schools competition in Term 3. All feedback was taken on board and next year promises to bring a bigger and better tournament.

Coming Up
November 4 Graduation Day

Perth Lynx Visit
February 2009

In February, the Perth Lynx (the states Women’s National Basketball League team) played a regular season match in Kalgoorlie. The Academy was lucky enough to be invited to participate in a coaching clinic run by one of the Perth Lynx players and Western Australia’s Intensive Training Coach. The girls had an hour session in which they worked on fundamental skills such as shooting technique and footwork. It was a great experience for the girls and everyone had great fun and learnt heaps. After the session the girls were given free tickets to attend the match between Perth and Bulleen the next night.

Stay tuned for developments on the Academy Common Rooms to be completed soon.

Coming Up
September 1 Go For Gold Classic Basketball Carnival
October 23 Academy Fundraising Breakfast (venue TBC)

Where is Ricky this week? Follow Ricky as he travels around Australia.