WESTERN Australia’s top AFL School Ambassador is heading to the AFL Grand Final at the MCG after being selected as the State’s best footy-promoting teacher for 2011.
Comet Bay College teacher, Stephen Thomson, pictured, was named WA’s AFL School Ambassador of the Year at a special dinner function at Patersons Stadium on Friday, August 12. Steve claimed the major award for the second consecutive year after continuing his outstanding work with the Comet Bay Football Specialist Program.
Awards were also presented at the Gala Education dinner for the most outstanding Primary and High School footy teachers, outstanding female program, multicultural program, remote and/or indigenous program and most outstanding first year Ambassador.
The annual WAFC Education Function continues to gain an important position on the WA Football event’s calendar with this year’s dinner having a ‘magic’ theme with a spellbinding performance by OLA the Magician. Special guests included AFL players Roger Hayden (FFC), Sam Butler (WCE), Bill Walker (WAFL Legend), WAFC Chairman Frank Cooper and CEO Wayne Bradshaw.
The function also gave the WAFC an opportunity to welcome Coles as the new AFL SCHOOLS Partner. Coles State Marketing Manager, Colin Chantler, attended the dinner and assisted with presentations.
In addition, all competition-winning school teams were acknowledged for their efforts including WAFC Schoolboys and Schoolgirls Cup winners, Design-a-Jumper winners and Alcock Cup champions.
Colin West, WAFC General Manager of Education & Development said: “This awards night is a great way to acknowledge the success of AFL programs in WA schools, which have not only achieved significant growth in participation the last two years, but also made a significant impact on student learning especially in the key areas of literacy and numeracy.
“These important outcomes have been generated by the passion and commitment of our terrific AFL School Ambassadors, in partnership with our WAFL District & Regional development staff. This prestigious dinner function provided an opportunity to recognize and reward the very best of our Ambassadors and celebrate our terrific programs and competitions,” Mr West said.
2011 AFL SCHOOL AMBASSADOR OF THE YEAR AWARD WINNERS
AFL SCHOOL AMBASSADOR of the YEAR
Supported by BHP Billiton, the Principal Community partner of the West Coast Eagles
Steven Thomson - Comet Bay College
Steve was inducted as an AFL School Ambassador in 2004. In 2011 he was selected by Peel District as a Super Ambassador. This involved coordinating all Secondary Ambassadors in the district and encouraging other Peel Phys-Ed teachers to engage students in a range of football programs. Since 2006, Steve has coordinated and coached the Australian Football Specialist Program at Comet Bay College including teams in the WAFC Year 8/9, Yr 10 and 11/12 interschool competitions, , Fremantle House Football and conducted a series of district interschool “Friendly” Girls Football matches. He also coaches at Peel Thunder.
Most Outstanding PRIMARY AFL School Ambassador
Marion Burt - Samson Primary School
Marion has been an AFL School Ambassador since 2004 and works tirelessly, always volunteering to help whenever the district needs assistance. At Samson Primary School she organizes the Eagles Cup, Freo Dockers Cup and other endorsed footy programs, in and out of the classroom.
Marion has promoted all female footy programs, organised and help run an after school NAB AFL Auskick centre, attended AFL School Ambassador functions and stepped in to help organise and coach a girls’ side at an AFL half time curtain-raiser even though many of the children were not from her school.
Most Outstanding SECONDARY AFL School Ambassador
Justin Burt - Wanneroo SHS
Justin is an outstanding ambassador for Australian Football who motivates his students to achieve.
Not only does he coach school football teams, but he has written an Australian Football course for Year 8 and 9. Justin has now developed a Year 10 course, allowing students to further advance their skill development and coaching ability. He has established senior school pathways by offering Australian Football-focused PE Studies or Certificate 1 or 2 in Sport and Recreation.
Justin liaises with local junior football clubs and West Perth Football Club and coaches a 14’s development squad.
Outstanding FIRST YEAR AFL School Ambassador Program
Coral Perhavec - Beckenham Primary School
Coral became an AFL School Ambassador to take football at the school to the next level. Coral organised an Eagles Rock My School visit, a follow up reading clinic in Year 1 and promoted the Eagles interactive whiteboard Literacy program.
She also organised a coaching clinic through the Perth District, took two teams to the Multicultural Football Carnival in Term 1, coordinated the Beckenham Primary School’’s Eagles Cup team and had two teams participate in the Freo Dockers Cup. Coral encouraged classes to participate in the AFL Quiz and assisted two TAFE students complete their practical coaching accreditation training.
Outstanding INDIGENOUS/ REMOTE AFL School Ambassador Program
Dan Lynch - Parnngurr Community School
Dan is a Director of Parnngurr Community School. Australian football has helped improve the school’s attendance and educational outcomes. This year attendance increased to 85%.
The students love coming to school as the literacy program has them reading and writing about AFL. Classrooms have been painted in Fremantle Dockers, West Coast Eagles and Swans colours. The school is painted red and white for the local community side, The Swans.
Dan organizes daily footy matches and he effectively coaches the students in the skills of playing and umpiring. This year a school team played at half time at the MCG for the Dreamtime Round.
Outstanding FEMALE AFL School Ambassador Program
Caitlyn Oakes - Katanning Senior High School
Caitlyn was inducted as an AFL School Ambassador in 2010. She has coached the girls’ football team at Katanning Senior High School for a number of years, leading them to the 'A' division premiership at Country Week in 2010, and defending the title at this year’’s carnival.
Recently, Caitlyn organised the Katanning girls’ team to play a practice match against the State Schoolgirls team. This initiative looks like becoming an annual fixture.
Following Katanning’s involvement in a Multicultural Football Program last year Caitlyn assisted running the 2011 program. She also assists at the Katanning Wanderers with strapping and coaching.
Outstanding MULTICULTURAL AFL School Ambassador Program
Nuria Ushoroff - Australian Islamic College
Nuria was inducted as an AFL School Ambassador this year. She works in a very multicultural environment, knowing that most children have not experienced playing or learning about AFL.
During Physical Education lessons Nuria taught the basic skills and was amazed at the improvement throughout the term. The students showed joy on their faces when they told her, 'Look I can bounce the ball.' Nuria has conducted Eagles Faction Footy and organised a Dockers Cup team to attend the Perth Multicultural Carnival.
Following a successful intra-school competition, Nuria selected students and staff to play an exhibition game on the last day of term.
WAFC SCHOOL COMPETITION WINNERS (from September 2010 to August 2011)
WAFC Schoolboys Cup
Yr 8-9 - Trinity College (2010)
Yr 10 - Corpus Christi College
Walker Division - Albany Senior High School
Jakovich Division - Winthrop Baptist College
Cable Division - Christian Brothers College Fremantle
WAFC Schoolgirls Cup
White Division - Corpus Christi College
Moore Division - John Septimus Roe Anglican Community School
VanderWeide Division - Katanning Senior Highschool
Alcock Cup
Champions - Wesley College
Design a Jumper Competition
Metro - Woodbridge Primary School
Country - Kulin District Highschool
