Latest News
• Add My News • Search Old News
Life’s a Ball Visits GippsTAFE!A group of VCAL and Work Education students attended the "Life's a Ball" program at GippsTAFE's Leongatha campus, facilitated by AFL Footballers Russel Butler and Ezra Poyas. By Eimear McNelis - 2nd May 2003 - Back to News A group of VCAL and Work Education students attended the "Life’s a Ball" program at GippsTAFE’s Leongatha Campus, facilitated by AFL footballers Russel Butler and Ezra Poyas.
The Life’s a Ball program provides students with an opportunity to meet inspiring men and women, and to hear them talk about obstacles they have had to overcome, and highlights of getting to where they are.
The program, which involves around 100 of Australia’s elite athletes, visits schools around Australia helping young people to improve their life skills and deal with difficult times in their lives.
Life’s a Ball promotes the emotional well being of young Australian’s by focusing on equipping young people with necessary day to day coping skills, improving the physical and emotional well being of youths, facilitating the empowerment and involvement of youths in the community and improving peer communication amongst youths.
Athletes Russel Butler and Ezra Poyas conducted a 90 minute workshops with the VCAL and Work Education students, conducting fun activities and discussing ideas and topics with the class about communication, dealing with frustration and conflict resolution, choices an consequences, improving self esteem, and goals and dreams.
Russel Butler was on the Australian Diving Team from 1985-1997 and competed in the Seoul and Atlantic Olympic Games. He won a gold medal in the One Metre Spring Board at the Commonwealth Games in Auckland in 1990 and was the Assistant Coach of the NSW Institute of Sport diving program. He currently teaches Pilates in his own studio and is also with the Collingwood Football Team.
Ezra Poyas moved to the Pahran Dragons in 1999 after an outstanding junior football career. At Pahran he played in the TAC Cup Competition, captaining Victorian Metropolitan in the National Under 18 Championships, being selected in the All Australian Team and playing in the Pahran Dragons 1999 Premiership Team. He was drafted to Richmond in the 1999 AFL National Draft, and won the 2001 Liston Trophy for the VFL Best and Fairest Award. He is now playing for the Melbourne Football Team.
After the athletes visited they left behind a six class lesson plan to be run by the VCAL and Work Education teachers.
These classes will reinforce the main messages delivered by the athletes during their session.
Source: http://gippsland.com/ Published by: news@gippsland.com
Related Articles- Danny O’Brien congratulates local football and netball clubs recognised through this year’s TAC Club Rewards Program
Gippsland South football and netball clubs have secured TAC Club Rewards funding, promoting safe driving and road safety awareness through community-led initiatives supported by AFL Victoria. - Allan Labor government backs regional footy and netball with $1.5M from 2025-26 Country Football and Netball Program
The Allan Labor government is investing $1.5 million in Morwell sports clubs through the Country Football and Netball Program, while opening new grants to upgrade regional facilities and boost community participation. - Danny O'Brien visits Gippsland schools honouring Anzac Legacy by planting 100 lone pines across Victoria
Gippsland schools joined the "100 Lone Pines Project," with Danny O’Brien delivering seedlings, connecting students to Gallipoli history and honoring the Anzac legacy through planting descendant pines across Victoria. - Parliamentary Inquiry visits South Gippsland to examine oil, gas decommissioning and regional transition opportunities
State Parliament’s Environment and Planning Committee visited South Gippsland to examine oil and gas decommissioning, and local government perspectives, highlighting infrastructure needs and renewable transition opportunities. - East Gippsland expands Whelans Group road maintenance contract, ensuring service continuity and local job retention across shire
East Gippsland Council has expanded Whelans Group’s road maintenance role, taking over areas previously managed by Cranes Asphalting, ensuring service continuity, high standards, and retention of local jobs across the shire. - Baw Baw Shire Council encourages community groups to apply for 2026‑2027 grants supporting projects and minor capital works
Baw Baw Shire Council’s 2026‑2027 Community Grants Program supports not-for-profit groups with funding for projects up to $5,000 and minor capital works up to $10,000, promoting thriving, sustainable communities. - Darren Chester commends Mac Waste Group for community commitment and support for Gippsland families
Darren Chester praised Mac Waste Group for its community commitment, local job creation, youth training initiatives, and support for Gippsland families through its partnership with the Little Jem Foundation and fundraising efforts. - Community invited to join Project Reference Group shaping East Gippsland’s future aquatic strategy and facilities planning
East Gippsland community members are invited to join a Project Reference Group to help shape the new Aquatic Strategy, guiding future facility planning, investment, and service delivery across the shire. - Seven students completed East Gippsland Water Vacation Student Program, gaining practical experience and development on skills
Seven university students completed East Gippsland Water’s Vacation Student Program, gaining hands-on experience in engineering, communications, IT, and environmental planning, preparing them for future careers in the water industry. - Baw Baw Shire awards over $109,000 in community grants supporting 13 groups’ minor capital work projects
Baw Baw Shire Council has awarded over $109,000 in Community Grants to 13 local groups, supporting minor capital works that improve facilities, sustainability, and community wellbeing across the shire. - Gippsland students return to classrooms rated poor or below average, exposing Labor’s neglect of regional schools, says Danny O'Brien
As Gippsland students return to school in 2026, 18 regional schools are rated poor or below average, highlighting Labor’s neglect and urgent need for infrastructure investment, says Danny O’Brien. - Cowes Primary students visited Berninneit, meeting Mayor Halstead, exploring community spaces, learning about leadership and environment
Curious Cowes Primary students meet Mayor Halstead at Berninneit, exploring local government, community spaces and environmental leadership during community walk visit. - Darren Chester delivers volunteer grant to support Traralgon RSL Bowls Group and boost junior participation
Darren Chester awarded a $1700 Volunteer Grant to Traralgon RSL Bowls Group, funding equipment to boost junior participation, support volunteers, and strengthen youth development as part of Gippsland's wider $63,000 program. - Over 350 attended Youth Agritech Expo, experiencing hands-on innovation and future opportunities in modern farming industry
More than 350 people joined East Gippsland's Youth Agritech Expo, where students explored hands-on agricultural innovations, from drones to driverless tractors, sparking fresh excitement about farming's high-tech, diverse, and innovative future. - Melina Bath statement wishes year 12 students across Eastern Victoria success in exams and future endeavours
Melina Bath wishes all Year 12 students in eastern Victoria good luck for exams, encouraging pride in achievements, resilience, and success in future studies, work, or apprenticeships. - Darren Chester celebrates Community College Gippsland’s new Morwell Facility supporting education and regional workforce development
Darren Chester welcomed Community College Gippsland’s new Morwell facility, celebrating its role in empowering students, supporting vocational education, and strengthening Gippsland’s workforce and regional communities. - Darren Chester welcomes St Paul's Anglican Grammar students to parliament house for insight into Australian democracy
Darren Chester welcomed St Paul's Anglican Grammar students to Parliament House, discussing democracy, civic engagement, and his role as Gippsland's representative while commending their enthusiasm and interest in national issues. - Darren Chester praises TAFE Gippsland and BRHS partnership for training local students to strengthen regional health workforce
Darren Chester praised TAFE Gippsland and BRHS for training local students, highlighting regional partnerships as key to addressing health workforce shortages and encouraging young people to pursue local health careers.
|
|
