Young athletes around the valley will get the opportunity to train regularly, improving their chances at competing in local, state, national and even international sporting events after Nambucca Shire Council agreed to auspice the sporting program ‘Promoting Social Inclusion through Sport’ at its March 4, general meeting.
The sports program which is being funded by the Indigenous Coordination Centre (ICC) will employ athletics coach and sports facilitator Ritchie Donovan to head up the program.
According to council’s general manager’s report, The Scotts Head Junior Sports Club in association with the Sports Field Committee of Management has been investigating ways of employing Mr Ritchie Donovan to extend the voluntary work he has been doing at the Buz Brazel sporting field, Scotts Head.
So far, the junior sports club has obtained a small grant to enable the short-term employment of Mr Donovan allowing the commencement of the ‘Promoting Social Inclusion though Sport’ project on a full time basis.
The ICC is organising funding for a three-year term, which would allow Mr Donovan to continue in the role on a permanent basis for this time.
Promoting Social Inclusion through Sport represents a project whereby Mr Donovan will realise a lifelong dream, to coach athletics on a full-time basis.
“I have always wanted to coach professionally,” Mr Donovan said.
“I have always coached, starting with rugby league and then joined the Australian Track and Field Coaches Association in 2002.
“I have been a voluntary, full-time little athletics coach for the last eight years outside of my normal job.”
“My heart and soul is on the track, the funding means that I can give up my painting job and just focus on training and mentoring the kids.”
Now that council have agreed to auspice the project, Mr Donovan will be able to start work this month.
His role within the project will be to develop and promote the use of the Buz Brazel sporting field. To prepare indigenous and non-indigenous athletes for competition at a local, state, national and international level.
And also network with key people in the sporting industry, government, schools, business and the indigenous and non-indigenous communities in order to sustain the development of a range of sports into the future.
“The importance of sport and physical recreation in improving physical and mental health is well known,” Mr Coulter said.
“For youth it also provides positive reinforcement of goal directed behaviour including the discipline, teamwork and leadership qualities required to achieve these goals.
“Athletics is a significant sport and the success of our indigenous athletes is particularly noteworthy.”
The program will be run at no cost to council and the grant funding represents an opportunity for Mr Donovan to to monitor the implementation of the program and the expenditure of the budget.
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