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2011 NO SCHOOL NO PLAY HOCKEY CHALLENGE - A COMMUNITY SUCCESS STORY
On the 16th June 2011, the first regional hockey competition was played as part of the new and emerging hockey program across remote and isolated communities in North West Queensland. This was the conclusion of the hockey program which began as a concept debated at the 2010 Remote and Indigenous Hockey Program - CHALLENGE OF CHANGE Workshop and an example of a highly successful community inclusion program.
Over 70 young school students from some of the more remote and isolated communities in North West Queensland travelled to Mount Isa on the 16th June 2011 to take part in the North West Hockey Program - NO SCHOOL NO PLAY HOCKEY CHALLENGE.
The communities of Boulia, Cammooweal, Cloncurry and Dajarra travelled in some cases up to 4 hours to take part in the day of hockey competition designed to highlight the new hockey skills learned through the Hook in2 Hockey Programs, put into practice the local coaching skills obtained through involvement in community hockey coaching programs and enjoy playing and competing as a team - something that is so often difficult to do in these remote and isolated communties.
A Competitions was played for those young people in Grade 3.4 and 5 and in a very close and hard fought game - Dajarra won 2 goals to 0 from a very enthusiastic St Josephs team from Cloncurry. In the Grade 6,7 competition - Dajarra also won a close match 2-0 against Cammooweal School.
This competition was a reward for those young people who agreed at the start of of the hockey program to increase their school attendance record and display good behaviour and a strong sense of team work and commitment. NO SCHOOL NO PLAY is a program initiated through the Commonwealth Government to support increased school attendance and the whole of the community - school, parents and children embraced the challenge and as a result was rewarded with a great trip to Mount Isa to have fun and measure themselves against their peers.
These type of programs would not be possible with the assistance and support of community. Australian Sports Commission through the Active After School Communities Program supported the local delivery, local schools embraced the program, Mount Isa Hockey members provided facilities and local support while Just Hockey provided 6 sets of goalkeeping gear to complete the teams and make them feel very special.
The Queensland Government supports Hockey Queensland and through this partnership especially with Sport and Recreation Services across the whole of North, Far North and North West Queensland regions and together we are making Queenslanders smarter, healthier and more active.
Hockey Australia is also a supporter of these programs and assist through the partnerships LEARN LEAD ACHIEVE AND THE NO SCHOOL NO PLAY Programs. In addition, an Indigenous Pathways Support Program is being developed which will offer opportunities to the people in the North West region.
Finally let me acknowledge and thank the Mount Isa Hockey Association for their unconditional support to the NW Hockey Program and Remote and Indigenous Hockey in particular. Local supporters are the key to success and local partnerships are the vehicle we use to get us to where we all want to be.
Congratulations to every-one including Remote Hockey Team Members - Mike Stevenson, Wes Ferns, Ena Waianga and Dalassa Savage who worked tirelessly in the planning and delivery of this most successful event.
Stay tuned for the pictures.
