Fostering elite Koori athletes
Nathan Rollinson
School Sport
The first ever Girri Girri Sports Academy gala day was held in Bathurst on Thursday 20 September with Orange’s Canobolas Rural Technology High School emerging as the champions.
Around 50 students attended to compete in netball and touch at Bathurst High School with Girri Girri Sports Academy (GGSA) co-ordinator Nathan Rollinson lauding the inaugural event a success.
The GGSA was formed in late April and involves Aboriginal students from Bathurst High, Kelso High, Cowra High, Canobolas Rural Technology High School, Bourke High and Brewarrina Central School.
Rollinson said the GGSA will help foster elite Aboriginal athletes, but also ensure students develop academically.
The premiership winning Bathurst Panthers’ rugby league winger attends each of four high schools one day a week and said the Academy is in its infant stages, but is already having progress.
The Academy has produced a track star with Canobolas High’s Damon Bell winning the New South Wales Combined High School’s 15 years boys 400 metre championship on September 11.
Bell, who won the final in a personal best of 53.13 seconds, will now progress to the NSW All Schools titles. He was also sixth in 15 years 800 metres.
Canobolas Rural Technology High School were undefeated across three matches of netball and touch and were crowned overall champions in the mixed format. The Orange school was also named best touch school and best netball school.
On the day, the best and fairest netballer was Cowra High’s Sarah Williams with Kelso High’s Izak Peters the best and fairest touch exponent.
“It was a great day and the concept has been well received,” Rollinson said.
“Considering we’ve only just started we’ve had a lot of success. The aim is to locate and identify talented Aboriginal athletes, but we also help students with their homework and schooling.
“This event was a great chance for students to socialise together as well. It can only get bigger from here.”
The gala day followed on from a camp at Lake Burrendong Sports and Recreation Centre near Wellington.
Rollinson said plans are now in place for a similar camp to be held concentrating on soccer and basketball with a gala day then to be held featuring both sports.
