Shooting Stars students across both the Mid-West Gascoyne and Kimberley Regions have welcomed some special guests into their classrooms this week, with Program Ambassador Kate Beveridge and West Coast Fever Athletes Courtney Bruce and Ingrid Colyer visiting a number of the delivery sites.
The athletes touched down in the respective Regions on Sunday with Colyer travelling to Carnarvon, Meekatharra and Geraldton, while Beveridge and Bruce will visit students in Halls Creek and Derby.
Shooting Stars Executive Officer, Fran Haintz, believes the visits will have a lasting influence on the students in each Region.
“The girls certainly enjoy the opportunity to not only engage with the Fever players, but also welcome them into their communities and provide a snapshot of the lifestyle they live on a daily basis,” Haintz said.
“These are athletes our students idolise and to host them in their hometowns, walk them through their classrooms and play alongside them at their local netball courts, is an experience that will stay with them for years to come.”
“Our Fever athletes are wonderful role models for these young girls and another reminder of the opportunities that are available to our students if they commit to their educational and sporting goals.”
Colyer’s trip to the Mid-West includes a women’s breakfast in Carnarvon, a dinner with Shooting Stars Community Partner Sandfire Resources NL, skills sessions at both Carnarvon Community College and Meekatharra District High School, a community BBQ in Mullewa and a visit to the Mid-West Tigers Club in Geraldton.
Beveridge and Bruce meantime will tour the stunning Kimberley Region including time with students at both the Halls Creek and Derby District High Schools, visiting Historical Sites in Halls Creek, a Leadership dinner with a group of high attending students, and an appearance at the Kimberley Cup to support the Halls Creek Senior team.
The trip comes in a week when Bruce was also named in the 2017/18 Australian Diamonds squad, receiving the phone call to inform her of her selection via satellite phone, before celebrating the news with the Shooting Stars students.
An initiative of Netball WA and the Glass Jar Australia, Shooting Stars aims to use netball as the vehicle to encourage greater engagement and attendance at school of young Aboriginal girls living in WA’s remote communities and regional towns.
The program now engages close to 300 students across six delivery sites; namely Halls Creek, Derby, Carnarvon, Meekatharra, Wiluna and Mullewa.
