{"id":32678,"date":"2013-05-09T17:20:27","date_gmt":"2013-05-09T07:20:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=32678"},"modified":"2020-12-18T14:54:49","modified_gmt":"2020-12-18T04:54:49","slug":"footy-academy-a-step-closer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2013\/05\/09\/footy-academy-a-step-closer\/","title":{"rendered":"Footy Academy A Step Closer"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Students from Tiwi Island and Narangba tested their footy skills against the locals at Cherbourg State School this week (Photo: Marcus Priaulx)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

May 9, 2013<\/strong><\/p>\n

Moves to establish a Clontarf Foundation<\/a><\/strong> football academy in the South Burnett are being further explored with a delegation from Cherbourg, Murgon and Kingaroy schools visiting NSW this week to see an academy in action.<\/p>\n

The delegation will be visiting Moree State High School.<\/p>\n

The Clontarf Foundation helps young indigenous men to complete Year 12 and then assists them to find further training and employment.<\/p>\n

It was established by former teacher and Sydney Swans player Gerard Neesham in 2000 with 25 boys in Perth and has grown to 47 academies across Western Australia, the Northern Territory, Victoria and NSW.<\/p>\n

The program uses the existing passion the young men have for football, both AFL and Rugby League, to attract them to school.<\/p>\n

Cherbourg State School hosted students \u00a0from Tiwi Island and Narangba schools this week. Both schools have AFL academies attached to their education curriculum.<\/p>\n