Shooting Stars is pleased to announce the official launch of its eighth site in Western Australia, following the opening of the site in Leonora in August 2018.
Shooting Stars is an initiative of Netball WA and Glass Jar Australia, which uses netball as a vehicle to encourage greater engagement and attendance at school of young Aboriginal girls living in WA’s remote communities and regional towns.
The Program has continued to grow and create positive change in the lives of over 350 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander girls across Western Australia.
The site is generously supported by a number of financial and community contributors that helped to get the site off the ground.
Leonora will be Shooting Stars’ first program based in Goldfields, located 833km northeast of Perth and will target up to 35 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander girls from Year’s 4-10 at Leonora District High School.
The site was given a generous boost by the Gold Fields Australia Foundation.
“The Gold Fields Australia Foundation is proud to be able to assist Shooting Stars in bringing this initiative to the Gold Fields commencing with the Leonora program. We are confident that the program will achieve the positive attendance and learning outcomes already seen in other regions,” Chairman, Alex Munt, said.
A significant financial partnership with gold and mining company, St Barbara Ltd, will also support the Shooting Stars program over the next three years.
The partnership played a key role in establishing the Leonora site and has already seen a sustainable impact.
St Barbara MD & CEO Bob Vassie said he was pleased to join with nearby gold mining company Saracen Mineral Holdings Ltd to establish the Shooting Stars program at Leonora.
“St Barbara believes that mining is a positive force for social and economic development for local communities. Shooting Stars stands out as a way to make a positive difference not just to the girls directly involved in the program, but also to their families and the wider Leonora community,” Vassie said.
Rock on Ground, a West Australia based drill and last company round out the Program’s support system with a community partnership.
“Rock on Ground is committed to working with local communities in the WA Goldfields region for the next three years,” General Manager Rock on Ground Pty Ltd Darren Guild said.
“With our largest mining project located near Leonora, it was a logical step to support the Shooting Stars program and the great work that is being done to increase school attendance rates through netball.”
Shooting Stars Executive Officer Fran Haintz said the opening of the latest site was another milestone in what has been a positive year.
“It’s fantastic to see Shooting Stars open its first program in Western Australia’s Goldfields and on the Kuwarra people’s country,” Haintz said.
“The way the community of Leonora has welcomed our program, along with essential corporate support has been outstanding, Haintz said.
“These investments from Saracen Mineral Holdings, St Barbara’s Limited and Gold Fields Australian Foundation have been essential in the inception and continued support of our Lenora site,” Haintz said.
“I would also like to thank Rock on Ground for their backing as a Community Partner as we aspire to encourage more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander girls within Leonora to embrace their education. Shooting Stars has a goal to work with 20 schools by the end of 2021.”
The Leonora site will be known as the Leonora Lightning, with the name reflective of a powerful and strong force of nature, which is what the Program encourages the young women to be.
The dress was also unveiled today, and was a group project between the participants, with the colours representative of the rich colours found in Leonora, with the earthy reds and rich blues of the sky meeting together.
