September 17, 2015
Footy hero Petero Civoniceva made good on a promise he’d made to Murgon and Cherbourg children when he paid a visit to Cherbourg recently to take part in the town’s inaugural “Catch Me If You Can” day.
The “Catch Me If You Can” project is an initiative of the South Burnett PCYC’s Indigenous Community Sport and Recreation Program, and Petero is one of its ambassadors.
The project aims to use sports to develop and improve relationships between Indigenous school students, the wider community and police.
The first program was run at the PCYC in Logan, south of Brisbane, last year.
Since then it has been expanded to cover North Queensland … and now the South Burnett.
Students are matched with a police officer of their choice and participate in team building activities and a friendly sporting competition.
Murgon State High School students and Murgon police officers get to know each other in a friendly environment at Jack O’Chin Oval, and had a fun day of sporting activities into the bargain.
The visit wasn’t the first Petero has made to Cherbourg.
He was the star attraction of the inaugural Reconciliation Fun Run from Murgon to Cherbourg in April 2014.
And while other duties kept him away from the Run’s second outing in May this year, he has visited Cherbourg several times since and loves the town’s atmosphere.
“The kids here are great,” Petero said.
“And this is a very positive program I’m proud to be part of.”
Petero, who is Fijian by descent, grew up in Brisbane after his parents emigrated to Australia.
The modest champion says his high-flying football career was due as much to luck as it was to skill, and he enjoyed sharing his experiences with local students.
“You need to make sure you have the right friends who want to get ahead just like you do,” Petero advised.
“They will boost you up and support you, not tear you down and depress you.
“That’s what you really need if you want a better life.”
