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Bairnsdale to host premier Victorian Indigenous sporting Some of Victoria’s best Indigenous sporting talent will be on display at Bairnsdale over the first Friday and Saturday of October. By Victorian Aboriginal Youth Sport & Recreation - 2nd September 2004 - Back to News The Gippsland and East Gippsland Aboriginal Cooperative (GEGAC) will host this years Victorian Aboriginal Youth Sport and Recreation Cooperative (VAYSAR) Statewide Football and Netball Carnival.
With 12 Football teams and 30 Netball team's expected to register this year with anything up to 5,000 people outside the Bairnsdale community attending the event.
"This is one of the biggest indigenous community sporting events on the calendar and we are very excited about hosting it. The committee has worked hard over the past ten months to organise the carnival. We have received great support from local community agencies and the Bairnsdale business community," said local community member and committee organiser Lidia Thorpe.
In the past the carnival ran over Saturday and Sunday of the first weekend in October each year however this year the organising committee decided to change the format to accommodate the needs of visitors travelling from the far Northern and Western areas of the State.
Mr Les Bamblett, VAYSAR Chief Executive Officer, supports the change "the idea was supported by VAYSAR because those communities having to travel long distances were very positive about the concept. We also hope that the early notice of the event has allowed participants to get the OK for some extra time off" said Mr Bamblett.
The Statewide Football Netball Carnival 2004 theme will focus on family fun activity in a strictly no drug and alcohol environment. In addition to competitors involvement the Carnival will include activities for children as well as a concert following the closing ceremony on the Saturday night.
With the formal welcome and opening to take place at the Lucknow Football Clubrooms on Thursday September 30 at 6.00 pm along with the official draw for both Football and Netball teams will be finalised.
One of the major highlights of the weekend will be the Auskick clinic conducted by Football Victoria's AFL KickStart Officer, Mr Derek Kickett along with current AFL footballers on the Saturday morning.
"I encourage all sporting fans to come along and be involved in two days of exciting football and netball. If the carnival isn’t enough for you, we are also holding a Carnival Golf Day out at the South Pines Golf Club near Lindenow kicking off at 8:00am sharp on Sunday October 3 in conjunction with the Indigenous Golf Association Victoria (IGAV) " said Mr Bamblett.
Sporting Clinics to be part of Football Netball Carnival
The local organising committee for the Indigenous Football Netball Carnival recently met with former AFL player Derek Kickett. Derek is the KickStart Development officer for Football Victoria and attended a committee meeting to offer the opportunity for an AFL KickStart clinic to be included in the Carnival program by a team that will include current AFL players (to be confirmed in the near future). Mr Kickett also announced that Football Victoria will assist with the sponsorship requirements of the Carnival. The organising committee were delighted to accept on both counts.
In addition to the Kickstart / Auskick activities, Netball Victoria will be running a similar program for new and up and coming netball players. Both activities will operate on the second day of the Carnival (Saturday) and are all-inclusive events with visiting and local indigenous and non-indigenous youth most welcome to attend.
Source: http://gippsland.com/ Published by: news@gippsland.com
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