All Fired Up - How We Engage Our Boys
Transcription
All Fired Up - How We Engage Our Boys
the QUARTERLY May 2015 clontarf foundation All Fired Up How We Engage Our Boys clontarffoundation the QUARTERLY May 2015 FEATURE Academy Programmes 4-5 HIGHLIGHTS Endeavour Academy Opens 3 Mount Austin Academy Opening 3 Clean Up Australia Day 6 Indigenous All-Stars Game 6 Staff Profile: Mick James 7 Linking with Hassad7 PD in Broome 8 Broome To Bicton Concert 8 About us The Clontarf Foundation exists to improve the education, discipline, selfesteem, life skills and employment prospects of young Aboriginal men and by doing so, equips them to participate more meaningfully in society. Using the passion that Aboriginal boys have for football allows the Foundation to attract the boys to school. But it is not a sporting programme. Each Clontarf Academy, formed in partnership with the local school, is focussed on encouraging behavioural change, developing positive attitudes, assisting students to complete school and secure employment. Fundamental to this, is the development of values, skills and abilities that will help the boys to achieve better life outcomes. Through a diverse mix of activities, the full-time, local Clontarf staff mentor and counsel students while the school caters for the educational needs of each student. 2 | the QUARTERLY May 2015 Message from the CEO Welcome to the first Quarterly for 2015. I am excited to begin this edition with some great news about our growth and what has been a fantastic start to the year at Clontarf. Our newest Academy has opened in Sydney at Endeavour Sports High School, Caringbah, and is a huge milestone for the Foundation. This is our first Academy in a capital city on the East Coast and means that we are able to showcase our programme to our partners and supporters in the city, something that I personally am looking forward to. While on the subject of new Academies, we are in the final stages of establishing the first of our Queensland programmes. Scoping has almost been completed and I am pleased to announce that we will be opening our first Academies in Queensland in the Darling Downs region, including in Cherbourg/Murgon (Barambah Academy), Dalby, Toowoomba (two Academies), and Warwick, with two other locations to be confirmed. All things being equal, the doors of the first of these will be open in mid-May! In March, the Foundation hosted its biggest ever staff Professional Development conference (PD) in Broome with over 200 staff, Board members and supporters participating throughout the weekend. It was a successful weekend and is vital to keep all of our staff informed and connected as we continue to grow. I hope you enjoy reading about some of the great activities that our boys have been involved in so far this year! Gerard Neesham Clontarf Foundation CEO www.clontarf.org.au The Clontarf boys at Endeavour Sports High School (Sydney) have taken to the Clontarf programme since it started in March. Endeavour Academy boys helping to prepare their Academy room. Mount Austin Academy students, teachers and supporters turned out to celebrate the official opening in February. Clontarf Hits The Pacific Mount Austin Celebrates Official Opening The Foundation is very excited to have opened our first programme on the Pacific Ocean – Endeavour Academy (NSW) located at Endeavour Sports High School (ESHS) in Sydney. ESHS and nearby Kirinari Aboriginal Boys Hostel have a long history of hosting Aboriginal boys from regional NSW – boys who are seeking to further their education and/or possibly carve out a sporting career for themselves. Given Endeavour’s proud sporting tradition, it is both fitting and fortunate that school teacher and former NRL great Jeff Hardy has joined us to head the Academy. Eronny Mareko, a former head boy of the school, will be his Operations Officer. As well as being important for the school and its students Jeff also believes that Endeavour has strategic significance for the Foundation. “The establishment of our first Academy in metropolitan Sydney is extremely exciting”, Jeff says. “Its proximity to the city will allow our Sydney based partners, representatives of government and the like to visit the Academy and better understand the way that we work.” The Endeavour Academy has 45 students enrolled in its programme. About half of these are local boys. The remainder, who are all boarding at Kirinari are country boys from a number of regional NSW towns and communities including Walgett, Kempsey, Wauchope, Enngonia, Lake Cargelligo and Moree. On 27 February Mount Austin Academy (NSW) entertained members of the Wagga community along with a number of special guests at the official opening of the Academy. The special event also presented the Academy with an opportunity to showcase the progress that its boys had made and demonstrate the extent to which they had embraced the programme since its introduction to the school two short months previously. As they arrived, each guest was greeted by the boys with plenty of handshakes and then ushered to their seat. After all guests were seated and a ‘Welcome to Country’ from a local Aboriginal elder, Academy member and MC for the event, Jayden Husband commenced the formalities by inviting School Principal Mrs. Susan Lockwood to welcome everybody to her school. Academy members Lyle Honeysett and Jordan then spoke about their impressions of ‘Life with Clontarf’. Both lads spoke with confidence and passion, impressing guests, teachers and peers alike. Clontarf’s Chairman Mr Ross Kelly then introduced the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Mr Victor Dominello, who officially opened the Academy. Finally, local MP Mr Daryl McGuire made a closing address. All speakers stressed how important it was for the first group of Mount Austin Academy boys to set an example for those who would follow them and how, if they did, they could help change Wagga and the school forever. At the close of official proceedings guests were escorted to the Academy room for morning tea and a chance to mingle and learn more about the new Academy and its boys’ hopes and dreams. The opening was a memorable occasion for all concerned and particularly for the boys, who celebrated by insisting that they remain in their special dress uniforms – Academy shirt, sharply creased long black trousers and shiny black shoes – for the rest of the The Hon. Victor Dominello, MP was a special guest at the opening. day! With the opening in February of the Dubbo Senior Academy catering for Year 11s and 12s, Dubbo College (NSW) now boasts 191 Clontarf boys across three campuses - the Senior campus and two junior campuses (Dubbo South and Delroy). Both of the junior campus Academies commenced operations in the latter half of 2014. www.clontarf.org.au the QUARTERLY May 2015 | 3 Engaging Programmes to Engage Students There’s a lot more to Clontarf than football - and there needs to be! It takes variety and innovation to keep young Aboriginal men engaged in education! The Clontarf Foundation believes that the failure of many Aboriginal people to obtain an adequate education (coupled with a lack of the life skills needed to participate fully in modern society) locks them into a cycle of disadvantage and creates the gap that exists between their life outcomes and those of other Australians. A significant proportion of Aboriginal boys consider their regular attendance at school to be optional. The Clontarf Foundation employs highly functional men to work with schools to deliver a programme that attracts young Aboriginal men back to school, makes them feel welcome, confident and wanted, and encourages and supports their participation in formal education. Aboriginal boys disengage from school mainly because of: • their inability to cope with school discipline or the curriculum, • their failure to form positive relationships with their teachers, • the absence of positive role models and/or a lack of parental support for education, and • pressure from their peers to become involved in activities other than schooling. In order to counteract these negative inputs, the Clontarf programme, as well as being educational, needs to appeal to boys with a diverse range interests, challenge them, and be delivered in a manner that ‘fires them up’. Our staff members work hard to come up with innovative ideas and vibrant, exciting programme elements. Typical examples are outlined below. Cookin’ With TC Every Tuesday – while the bell is still sounding the end of the school day – the boys from the Katherine Academy (NT) rush to the Home Economics room to take part in ‘Cooking with TC’ – a cooking class run by Operations Officer and ‘foodie’ Tommy ‘Tuckerbox’ Cameron. As well as promoting healthy eating and teaching the boys how to cook a number of quick nutritious meals for themselves, their friends and their families, TC’s after school sessions teach food hygiene and knife safety, demonstrate the value of teamwork and serve to counter the formality of a normal school day. Class favourites to date include delectable peach chicken skewers, bacon and egg filo pies, and ham and noodle frittata, though we have been told that the best is yet to come. According to Tommy, “The whole process is student focused. It provides the boys with fantastic opportunities to research food of various types, assemble ingredients, create various dishes and finally, to enjoy them”. 4 | the QUARTERLY May 2015 www.clontarf.org.au Karratha Slip ‘n Slide Halls Creek Radio Show Bike Riding Around Australia Karratha, situated as it is in WA’s Pilbara, can get blazingly hot in summer. Even the earliest of early morning footy training sessions can be sweaty, sticky affairs. “Goooood Moooorning Halls Creek!!!” Term 1 has seen students from 36 of our Academies around the country ‘cycle up a storm’, thanks to the generous donation of over 600 mountain bikes and helmets to Clontarf through one of its partners, Coca-Cola. Not for the crew of Clontarf’s Karratha Academy however, as after training they cool down with ‘splashdowns’ on the ‘slip ‘n slide’ – a 20 metre square tarpaulin liberally laced with detergent and water – that they set up on the edge of the school oval. The response to this initiative has been astounding. Even on the hottest days, up to 80 Clontarf boys turn out, train and then use the ‘slip ‘n slide’ to let off steam and build camaraderie. “It’s important to engage the boys from the start of each year and this is when it’s at its hottest”, notes Karratha Academy Operations Officer Michael Goss. “As well as cooling everyone down, our ‘slip ‘n slide’ allows boys who aren’t that great at football to become involved and feel included.” Clontarf’s Halls Creek Academy (WA) once again hit the airwaves with the regular community radio show that its boys produce. Designed to help presenters develop leadership and public speaking skills, each one hour radio show is hosted by a different group of senior students who communicate ‘all things Clontarf’ to a wide audience via public radio. Halls Creek Academy Director Michael Lay believes that as well as developing the boys, the radio show also delivers positive flow-on effects to the school and local community. “The boys structure the show to include upcoming Clontarf events, interview their teachers, choose the music and generally serve as a positive presence within the community.” “Every broadcast day the Academy room is filled with boys keen to support their fellow classmates. It also opens the boys’ eyes to a possible career in radio”, Michael adds. Our boys have taken to the sport with enthusiasm because as well as being great exercise it allows them to participate individually or as part of a team as well as to travel long distances independently. Victoria’s Robinvale Academy is typical. As an alternative to football training, a group of Academy members have formed an early morning cycling club and complete a 15km circuit around town a couple of times a week. They have also linked with the local police who assisted them to assemble their bikes and trained them to ride safely. “I love being outside riding with my mates”, says Year 10 student Jed Pettit, a newcomer to cycling. “Sometimes we do time trials to see who can beat last week’s record.” The Robinvale Academy cycling club has also commenced training for a 90 km ride to Mildura that it plans to undertake later in the year. Armidale Dance Group Several years ago a group of boys from the Armidale Academy (NSW), with the assistance of the Academy’s staff, formed the Armidale Academy Dance Group. The boys now really own the project and meet weekly to practice as well as develop new routines. “Our dances tell the stories of our ancestral heroes”, says Year 10 student Dennis Cutmore. “We have learnt different routines for different events, it keeps the group fresh and it builds our confidence.” The group, which is now in great demand, has performed recently at the opening of new buildings and also at a ceremony to induct new students into the University of New England. All of these events required them to perform in front of large audiences. Their most recent success is an ongoing project with the Department of Environment and Heritage. The department has commissioned the boys to develop and perfect an ‘Ibis’ dance that will form part of a DVD on these birds migratory pattern within the New England region. www.clontarf.org.au the QUARTERLY May 2015 | 5 Darwin Academies came together to do their bit on Clean Up Australia Day. Casuarina Academy (NT) boys cleaning up Rapid Creek. Clean Up Australia Day This year, ‘Clean Up Australia Day’ was held in Term 1 and, as in previous years, a number of our Academies around the country seized the opportunity to take part and involve their boys in giving back to their communities. Clontarf encourages its boys to participate in community events and in the case of ‘Clean Up Australia Day’, the boys for their part, take great pride in making a visible difference; often taking ‘ownership’ of an area by returning throughout the year to remove rubbish or address any environmental damage if and when it occurs. Working with the Darwin University Enviro Collective and the Rapid Creek Landcare Group, over 50 boys from our Darwin Academies (Casuarina, Kormilda, Palmerston, Rosebery, Dripstone, Sanderson and Nightcliff) got up early on a Sunday morning in March to scour the beach, mangroves and bush areas around Casuarina Coastal Reserve and Rapid Creek and collect over 100 bags of rubbish that included everything from empty bottles to old school bags. Lesley Alford (Secretary of the Rapid Creek Landcare Group) remarked, “The students impressed our members with their hard work, politeness and the respect they showed to other community volunteers. Having students from all seven Academies made a major difference to what we could achieve at the event”. Other Academies to participate in similar events included: The Dubbo South Academy (NSW) who teamed up with younger students from Orana Heights Public School to clean their school yards and surrounding bushland, the Warrnambool Academy (VIC) who joined local Rotary members to spruce up their end of town, and the Carnarvon Academy (WA) boys Lesley Alford of Rapid Creek Landcare Group who helped clean-up after thanking the Clontarf boys for their efforts. Cyclone Olwyn which ravaged much of their town in March. 6 | the QUARTERLY May 2015 The Indigenous All-Stars alongside the West Coast Eagles. Photo: AFL Images Clontarf Well Represented In The Indigenous All-Stars Game Nobody who has ever watched a Clontarf football match doubts that many of Clontarf’s young men have loads and loads of talent and indeed over the 15 years of its existence more than 30 of Clontarf’s ‘old boys’ have been drafted into the AFL. In February this year, seven of these who are currently on AFL lists reached a further milestone in their careers by being selected in the AFL Indigenous All-Stars side to play against the West Coast Eagles at Medibank Stadium, Leederville. Those selected were Jack Martin and Jarrod Garlett (Gold Coast), Curtly Hampton (Greater Western Sydney), Jermaine Miller-Lewis (Hawthorn), Neville Jetta (Melbourne), Jake Neade (Port Adelaide) and Lewis Jetta (Sydney). In the days leading up to the clash, they joined other injured squad members including former Clontarf graduates Patrick Ryder and Nathan Krakouer (Port Adelaide), Jed Anderson (Hawthorn), Michael Johnson (Fremantle) and Chris Yarran (Carlton) in a range of community activities held across Perth. Some of our current students were also fortunate enough to have an opportunity to meet these former Clontarf stars and gain some valuable advice in the process. We commend each of these Clontarf alumni as they continue to impress both on and off the football field and demonstrate the importance of completing Year 12 whether you are becoming a professional sportsman or South West Academy alumni entering the workforce. You are all a Lewis Jetta before the match. Photo: AFL Images credit to yourself, your families and of course - Clontarf! www.clontarf.org.au Mick James (far left) coaching the Centralian Sea Eagles to victory at the 2013 Territory Cup in Alice Springs. Staff in the Spotlight: Mick James A Day On The Hassad Farm Establishing a new Academy is a challenging, exciting and rewarding experience. For most of our staff and their families, with current Port Adelaide player Jake being involved in an Academy start up Neade as another highlight of his time in represents an opportunity to become Alice. immersed in a new community, make new “Jake arrived at Yirara College Boarding friends, ‘earn their stripes’ with a new School from Elliott, a remote community half group of boys and get to know a different way between Alice Springs and Darwin as a part of the country. If you don’t believe us, 13 year old”, Mick recalls. His father Chris here’s what Mick James thinks – sent him and his brother Ben to the school “In 2007 the Foundation took a bold step to be a part of the Clontarf programme. and decided to expand out of Western Despite the many challenges he has had Australia and into the Northern Territory. to face and in particular being away from I was part of the first team to establish family from a young age, Jake has gone on an Academy in Alice Springs”, Mick to set the foundation for a successful AFL career. Not only that, but remembers. “We felt like “We felt like we he’s the shortest player in we were trail blazing on a new frontier. At the were trail blazing the AFL! time Clontarf had only six In 2013, the opportunity Academies established in on a new frontier.” to move back to Victoria the West so generating a presented itself and Mick presence in the Territory is something I’m took on the Director’s role at the Mildura very proud of.” Academy (80km from Robinvale) that had Growing up in Robinvale in Victoria, been established three years prior. Mick became involved with Indigenous As well as knowing how to open a new recruitment, mentoring and apprenticeship Academy, Mick also understands what it support. He then joined Clontarf and took takes to develop an Academy to maturity on the Director’s role at Yirara College (NT). - a process that generally takes five years; Mick found his time in Alice Springs the time needed for the junior boys to come rewarding and eye-opening. “Working through the programme and become senior with the remote students at Yirara leaders who understand and exemplify the College Boarding School for many years spirit and values of their Academy. was very memorable”, he said. “The “After five years and a lot of hard kids have uniquely warm and generous work by a number of people, the Mildura personalities and it was a privilege to programme now exhibits all the elements have the opportunity to spend time in their of bona fide Clontarf operation”, Mick says communities.” but then adds, “There’s still a lot that we Mick also considers his involvement can do to make it even better.” During 2014, Hassad Australia became the first company within the agricultural sector to enter into a partnership with Clontarf. Given that a significant number of Academies are located in rural areas and also that after graduation most of our boys seek employment close to where they live, the Hassad partnership could not be more appropriate. The Hassad Group owns and operates farms across the country. Englefield Plains situated approximately 60km from Wagga Wagga is typical. In April students and staff from our Mount Austin Academy (NSW) had the opportunity to visit Englefield Plains as part of a worksite visit. Although they were impressed by the sheer size of the property and the scope of its cropping and cattle activities, it was the gigantic farm machinery that captured and held their attention. And it was Year 10 student Liam Whytecross who became the envy of all present when, assisted by property manager Rolf Hartge, he was given a shot at driving one of the giant headers. None of the boys involved in the visit had had any previous exposure to farming life, so for all of them it was a truly unique experience. In the car returning to school, significantly, one of the boys mentioned that he could see himself working at Englefield Plains. Maybe he will be the first of many Clontarf boys to work for Hassad. We certainly hope so! A big thank you to Rolf for being so hospitable and also for taking the trouble to pass on some of his extensive farming knowledge and wisdom to the boys. www.clontarf.org.au Mount Austin Academy boys and property manager Rolf Hartge pose in front of one of the farm’s tractors. the QUARTERLY May 2015 | 7 Over 200 Clontarf staff came together in March for the annual Professional Development weekend. Professional Development Weekend in Broome Each year the Clontarf Foundation brings together every member or its staff for a weekend to take part in a Professional Development conference (PD). This year’s PD was held between 27th and 29th March in Broome – over 200 staff members flew in from all over the country to participate. During the Friday afternoon prior to the The PD provides a forum for staff members to get together to further develop their skills, gain a deeper commencement of the conference, all participants understanding of the Foundation’s mission and worked in a voluntary capacity on one of a number of direction, learn from their peers (particularly those community projects that were held around Broome. These involved: from other states) and socialise. This year the theme of the weekend was ‘A • visiting a hospital and an aged care facility to entertain residents, National Programme – A National Approach’ – the objective being to ensure that irrespective of where • planting trees, they are located, all Academies understand and • conducting a clinic for junior footballers, adhere to the Foundation’s underlying Principles • carrying out maintenance on the Kyle Andrew’s and take a similar approach to delivering their Foundation house, programmes. • cleaning up the community, The weekend also provided an opportunity for • washing cars and donating the funds raised to a various staff members to share ‘lessons learnt’ local charity, and with their peers as well as take part in a series of • distributing food parcels to the needy. practical exercises designed to hone their skills and Broome Shire President Graeme Campbell improve performance. Overall, 65 different sessions summed up the exercise, “This is the second year were held and focussed on: that Clontarf staff members have volunteered • the Foundation’s Operating Principles, their time in the Broome community and this year • examples of best practice, and they contributed 400 volunteer hours. The Broome • quick tips capable of easy implementation. community greatly appreciates their efforts”. 13th Annual Broome To Bicton Concert Each summer the Clontarf Foundation holds an outdoor concert at Quarantine Park in Bicton WA, near Fremantle. Once again this year’s event featured widely acclaimed Broome group The Pigram Brothers, with well-known Perth entertainer Dave ‘Tiger’ Regan in support. Clontarf first hosted the event 13 years ago for two reasons: • to raise awareness of the Foundation and • to stage a community event where Indigenous and non-Indigenous people can come together to enjoy an evening of great music on the bank of Swan River. Both these reasons continue to be valid today. The event has grown in popularity – aided no doubt by the fact that from time to time and unheralded, celebrities such as Paul Kelly, Archie Roach, John Butler and the cast of Bran Nue Dae have dropped in and performed – to the point where this year’s concert drew a record crowd estimated at 5,000. Tennant Creek Academy (NT) graduate Marcellus Ah Kit, who is currently living in Perth completing a horticultural traineeship was MC for the night and kept the crowd entertained with stories of his time in the Academy and what it means to be an ‘old boy’. Dave ‘Tiger’ Regan opened the evening’s entertainment with upbeat tunes which got people – young and old – up and dancing. Then as the sun was setting over the river, the Pigram Brothers came on and captivated the crowd with a selection of songs from their acclaimed repertoire. The evening concluded in the traditional manner with all participating artists assembling on the stage to lead the record crowd in a rousing rendition (followed by several encores) of Clontarf’s theme tune – Paul Kelly and Kev Carmody’s Australian classic, ‘From Little Things Big Things Grow’. Thank you for your support Clontarf would like to acknowledge the following organisations for their recent commitment to support the Foundation: • Department of Prime Minister & Cabinet • SKILLED Group • Clough Foundation • CITIC Pacific Mining • Cameron • Qube Ports & Bulk • Qantas • Dalara Foundation • Spotless • BMD Constructions Workplace Giving & Donations There are a significant number of individuals who support the Clontarf Foundation through donations and work place giving programmes. We are very appreciative and thank you for your ongoing support. If you would like to donate directly please follow this link or alternatively, Qantas Frequent Flyer members can now redeem their points for a cash donation to the Clontarf Foundation by following this link. Click here to download our 2014 Annual Report from our website. Follow us on Facebook Clontarf Foundation Central Office McKay Street, BENTLEY WA 6102 Ph (08) 9356 2500 Fax (08) 9356 2555 [email protected] clontarf www.clontarf.org.au foundation