Footy fun time for far north students

By PETER ROWE

The AFL Cape York Foundation was one of several schools and organisations in the Far North and the Torres Strait Islands to benefit from a donation of footballs by Nautilus
Aviation.

The aviation company has a longstanding relationship with AFL Cape York Ltd with a strong focus on community engagement, particularly in Torres Strait and Cape York communities, and has donated 100 footballs to northern Australian communities as part of this endeavour.

Nautilus Aviation chief executive Aaron Finn said it was important to engage with the communities on the islands and in the Northern Territory.

“We spend a lot of time on the islands and in the Northern Territory, and we link communities with major centres, take out essential services and suppliers in our helicopters – we’re engaging on a daily basis with these communities,” he said.

“This year we purchased 100 footballs to distribute from our helicopters to kids in the Torres Strait, East Arnhem Land, and across the Northern Territory.

“Working in conjunction with AFL Cape York and AFL NT, we put their logos on the balls and supplied the kids with pumps as well.”

The donation is part of an initiative to maintain positive relationships, connect with communities, and get kids involved in sport.

“2023 was the first time any football code was able to get to every one of Tagai State College’s 17 campuses across the Torres Strait Islands,” AFL Cape York General Manager Rick Hanlon said.