Olympic Spirit inspires youth in Alice Springs

By PETER ROWE

The Australian Olympic movement was in full force last week in Alice Springs when Paris Olympians Tom Wickham and Renee Taylor worked with coaches from the Australian Olympic Indigenous Coaching Scholarship program to deliver key elements of the AOC’s Reconciliation Action Plan.

The RAP commits the AOC to the development of pathways for Indigenous athletes, coaches, sporting officials and other administrators.

This trip was also the perfect opportunity to put some Indigenous hockey coaches through their paces in the local community.

Coaches Dawn Baira (Torres Strait), Travis Carroll (NT), Shana-Ann Casimiro (NT) and Keegan Popowski (QLD) have all graduated from phase one of the AOICS program.

They can now pass on their knowledge to other aspiring Indigenous coaches.

“I think it’s huge for Indigenous communities to have people in coaching positions that they can aspire to be like, or have people that they can feel like they resemble,” Keegan Popowski said.

“The program also helps with cultural awareness and being able to get people to relate to each other in this community.

“This is huge, and it feels like the program has created an easier vehicle for Indigenous people to get involved in and experience sports.”

The visit wasn’t all about coaching, it was also about connecting the community to sport, using lessons learned through sport to help children create the best versions of themselves and get them to aim for a brighter future.

Dual Olympian and silver medallist Tom Wickham grew up in Alice Springs and returned to his local school to talk students.

“I feel that having role models and Olympians connecting with the community shows that we care, we’re also in a position where we have a platform to give back to more than just our sport,” he said.

“I think sport can absolutely provide a better opportunity for people within this community.”

AOC CEO Matt Carroll acknowledged the important role sport plays in the development of communities like Alice Springs.

“The programs that we have developed and are now implementing in these communities show a clear pathway for indigenous people to develop crucial leadership skills,” he said.

Olympics Unleashed and Australian Olympic Indigenous Coaching Scholarship program will continue to inspire communities in the Northern Territory throughout October.