While most of the playing group were in Tasmania for the Australia Post AFL Community Camp, a small group of Hawthorn players travelled to the Northern Territory as part of the AFL Club Partnerships Program.
This is the first visit of three for 2012, as players enjoyed visits to local schools, activities with children and a kick of the footy with local talent.
Katherine
Jarryd Roughead, Stephen Gilham and Andrew Boseley travelled to Katherine, 310kms outside Darwin for their Community Camp. The players were given 2012 team photo postcards to sign as they served lunch to children. Hawks giveaways were then handed out, much to the delight of the children.
Clontarf School for Indigenous boys was the next stop as the players spoke to the school boys ahead of an impromptu game of football. Trey Rioli, cousin of Cyril was the standout, as was the mature and 'slightly' out of shape, Gary Buckenara - who dashed onto the field, collected the footy, dodged three players and wielded onto his right foot to spear a pass to the full forward who converted (memories would have come flooding back for Jason Dunstall).
Jilkminggan community, 150 kms from Katherine is the home of approximately 300 people. Players visited the classrooms of the local school and, gave away some Hawks goodies. Players then marvelled at the natural football skill of the locals as they enjoyed a game of football.
The journey back to Darwin also brought some exitement, as players visited Mataranka Hot Springs and enjoyed a swim with locals.
A visit to Mataranka Primary school was next on the agenda, where players conducted a question and answer session with children. Andrew Boseley provided the highlight when he demonstrated some stretching exercises.
The camp concluded with a visit to the Big River Hawks U18 football team, who took on the Darwin Buffaloes at Showgrounds oval. Hawks players were intoduced before the match and presented players and spectators with Hawks giveaways.
Roughead, Gilham and Bosely were outstanding role models and great ambassadors for the football Club throughout the camp as they showed patience and a willingness to get involved despite temperatures upwards of 37 degrees. The players would like to extend their thanks to the locals of Katherine and Darwin for warmly welcoming the Hawks into their communities.
Andrew Boseley shares a moment with children in their classroom.
Children of Katherine prepare for their football clinic with Hawks players.*The Hawks visit Katherine and surrounding communities three times a year. Each trip involves visits to schools, where players conduct football clinics and hold talks with students on healthy life choices, including the importance of drinking water instead of soft drink, eating healthy foods and the need for frequent physical activity.
Hawthorn have built a great relationship with the local U18 football team, the Big River Hawks, where Hawthorn players help deliver training sessions with the Big River team.
The players also visit the Clontarf Academy at Katherine High School, where female staff speak to students who are part of the Stronger, Smarter Sisters program. Talks focus on individual professional journey and, what is involved in working at a football Club in order to inspire students to embark on further education post secondary school.
The Club has recently introduced a school attendance program, piloted at McFarlane Primary in Katherine. The program involves marking attendance on a classroom poster (which features Shaun Burgoyne) and, students with 100% attendance are rewarded with a Skype session with Burgoyne. This allows further engagement with students outside visits while promoting the importance of attending school each day - truancy is a huge problem in the area. Hawthorn are committed to expanding this across the region in 2012.
