Dubbo Visit - 11th to 13th July 2006

Skills Clinic at Mary Brooksbank Special School - 1st August

'Rugby in the Park', and in particular, the trip to Dubbo with the coach/mentors from Airds High School, is the most fulfilling and satisfying activity that Rebecca and I have been involved in as teachers and has brought us even closer to the children of the Airds community. To see the all round development that is taking place within the coach/mentors individually and as a group as a result of 'Rugby in the Park' is inspiring. I hope that other communities are able to benefit as much as we have as a result of this community based program.”  Andrew Phelan, Airds Program Co-ordinator

Airds Coach/Mentors visit Dubbo

During the school holidays (Tuesday 11 – Thursday 13 July), ten youth coach mentors

from the Airds Rugby in the Park program travelled to Dubbo in the far west of

NSW to launch two new Rugby in the Park programs at two separate locations in Dubbo,

(Gordon and Apollo housing estates).

While in Dubbo the Airds team were also treated to a traditional Indigenous welcome and

dance performance by the school holiday program participants at the PCYC, attended

dinner with potential Dubbo Youth/Coach Mentors, and visited the Dubbo Zoo (courtesy of NSW Department of Sport and Recreation) including a behind the scenes tour.

The trip to Dubbo was a great opportunity for the entire group to encounter a wide range of experiences. The group as a whole responded to this opportunity and displayed a number of important qualities including, leadership, team building, planning, organising and time management.

For a report of the trip and images click here
 

Airds "Rugby in the Park" coach/mentors hold skills clinic for students with intellectual disabilities at Mary Brooksbank Special School. On Tuesday 1 August a group of Airds High School ‘Rugby in the Park’ Coach Mentors traveled to Mary Brooksbank School to lead a rugby skills clinic for 25 students with varying intellectual disabilities. The 1 ½ hour clinic involved students that ranged in age from Kindergarten through to Year 12 and were of varying backgrounds and abilities.  The Coach Mentors led the students in fun and challenging activities that involved all the students in physical activity and developed their gross motor skills. The Coach Mentors once again showed high levels of leadership and were praised very highly by the staff at Mary Brooksbank School on the manner in which they conducted the activities.  The afternoon session was enjoyed by all students and teachers involved and will hopefully lead to more coaching clinics at Mary Brooksbank School in the future.   Thank you Orlando Mataipule, Patu Bishop, Sonny Leatigaga, Sione Mafi, Joseph Turanginivolo, George Turanginivolo, Flutey Faamausili, Nga Eli, Felicia Frantzis, Alyshia Chesterfield, Krystal Chesterfield, and also Mr and Mrs Phelan for co-ordinating the visit.