July 30, 2015
Deputy Prime Minister and Member for Wide Bay Warren Truss says four South Burnett schools in his electorate have signed up to be a part of the Federal Government’s new “Sporting Schools” initiative.
The schools are Goomeri State School P-10, Murgon State School, St Joseph’s Catholic School and Windera State School.
“Sporting Schools is one of the Coalition Government’s cornerstone preventative health programs aimed to improve our children’s health through getting more kids involved in physical activity,” Mr Truss said.
“Being involved in this new program will expand sporting opportunities for children before, during and after school hours at Wide Bay primary schools.
“Sporting Schools is designed to deliver sports in line with local schools’ needs and ultimately to get the children active, engaged and having fun through sport, more often.”
- Schools can still sign up to join the Sporting Schools program at online
I wish to point out my disappointment with Sporting Schools. I believe the uptake in the Country schools in the South Burnett has been low.
The current list is Goomeri State School P-10, Murgon State School, St Joseph’s Catholic School and Windera State School.
Surely this must be very disappointing, I believe the reason is simple, choices or lack of choices.
Country schools are different and need to be granted a better choices. Below is the current choices and you will notice the lack of choices for country children:
AFL?, Australian Rugby Union? Badminton Australia? Baseball Australia? Basketball Australia? Bowls Australia, Cricket Australia, Cycling Australia? Equestrian Australia? Football Federation Australia, Golf Australia (Murgon Golf Club), Gymnastics Australia (South Burnett PCYC), Hockey Australia? National Rugby League? Netball Australia? Orienteering Australia? Rowing Australia? Ski and Snowboard Australia? Softball Australia? Squash Australia (Murgon PCYC don’t know about coaches), Surf Life Saving Australia? Surfing Australia? Swimming Australia (Murgon Pool, Kingaroy Pool, Proston Pool, Goomeri Pool, Kingaroy Pool and Wondai Pool), Table Tennis Australia? Tenpin Bowling Australia (Kingaroy Tenpin Bowling), Tennis Australia? Touch Football Australia? Triathlon Australia? Volleyball Australia? Water Polo Australia? Yachting Australia?
Lots of these are not available for country kids. In 8 years I was doing AASC I looked after 17 schools. What is the number of schools in the South Burnett doing sporting schools? I believe 4 schools?
I believe you need to disclose this information so the public can make inform decisions and so the Deputy Prime Minister’s office can validate my complaint.
I strongly believe Judo should be added to the list ASAP so schools can have a better choice.
Hi Stan … just to be fair. This information came from Warren Truss’ office and covered the Federal electorate of Wide Bay only. Wondai is in another electorate (Flynn); and Kingaroy, Nanango, Yarraman etc are in another (Maranoa). There may well be more than four schools taking part if these other electorates were also included.
And many of those sports that you listed with a question mark are available to local students, eg AFL, Football (soccer), Rugby League, Touch Football, Netball, Softball, Tennis, Volleyball and Basketball; and there is also a large junior athletics club.
And some of the other sports you listed would be logistically impossible, eg. Yachting, Snowboarding etc