Andrew, 8, from St Paul’s Catholic Primary School in Monbulk had a big smile on his dial at the Indigenous sports day. 75116 Pictures: Greg Carrick
By Russell Bennett
MONBULK Recreation Reserve played host to an inter-school sports event with a twist late last month as more than 150 students from Macclesfield, Menzies Creek, Monbulk, St Paul’s, The Patch, and Upwey South primary schools took part in a twilight Indigenous sports day.
The afternoon featured traditional Indigenous games, supported by the Australian Government’s Active After-School Communities (AASC) program, and was held under the guidance of Wurundjeri elder, Murrundindi. The event, held on 29 November, included boomerang throwing and a special kangaroo dance and doubled as the finale to the AASC indigenous games programs held in a range of schools across the Yarra Ranges shire in term 4.
The AASC program gave local youngsters the opportunity to try their hand at games traditionally just played in Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander communities in a fun, safe and friendly environment with the support of local school staff and community coaches.
“The Indigenous games program has been about having fun, making friends, learning about the Indigenous culture and getting active,” local AASC regional co-ordinator Kellie McPherson said.
The AASC program is delivered by the Australian Sports Commission in more than 3000 schools and out-of-school care centres across Australia.
Each term, up to 190,000 children participate in up to 70 different sports and 20 structured physical after school activities.
For more information, visit ausport.gov.au/aasc.
