All Fired Up - How We Engage Our Boys

the QUARTERLY
May 2015
clontarf
foundation
All Fired Up How We Engage
Our Boys
clontarffoundation
the QUARTERLY
May 2015
FEATURE
Academy Programmes
4-5
HIGHLIGHTS
Endeavour Academy Opens
3
Mount Austin Academy Opening
3
Clean Up Australia Day 6
Indigenous All-Stars Game
6
Staff Profile: Mick James
7
Linking with Hassad7
PD in Broome 8
Broome To Bicton Concert
8
About us
The Clontarf Foundation exists to
improve the education, discipline, selfesteem, life skills and employment
prospects of young Aboriginal men and
by doing so, equips them to participate
more meaningfully in society.
Using the passion that Aboriginal
boys have for football allows the
Foundation to attract the boys to school.
But it is not a sporting programme.
Each Clontarf Academy, formed in
partnership with the local school, is
focussed on encouraging behavioural
change, developing positive attitudes,
assisting students to complete school
and secure employment.
Fundamental to this, is the
development of values, skills and
abilities that will help the boys to
achieve better life outcomes.
Through a diverse mix of activities,
the full-time, local Clontarf staff
mentor and counsel students while the
school caters for the educational needs
of each student.
2 | the QUARTERLY May 2015
Message from the CEO
Welcome to the first Quarterly for 2015.
I am excited to begin this edition with
some great news about our growth and
what has been a fantastic start to the year
at Clontarf.
Our newest Academy has opened in Sydney
at Endeavour Sports High School, Caringbah,
and is a huge milestone for the Foundation. This
is our first Academy in a capital city on the East
Coast and means that we are able to showcase
our programme to our partners and supporters
in the city, something that I personally am
looking forward to.
While on the subject of new Academies,
we are in the final stages of establishing the
first of our Queensland programmes. Scoping
has almost been completed and I am pleased
to announce that we will be opening our first
Academies in Queensland in the Darling
Downs region, including in Cherbourg/Murgon
(Barambah Academy), Dalby, Toowoomba (two
Academies), and Warwick, with two other
locations to be confirmed. All things being
equal, the doors of the first of these will be
open in mid-May!
In March, the Foundation hosted its
biggest ever staff Professional Development
conference (PD) in Broome with over 200 staff,
Board members and supporters participating
throughout the weekend. It was a successful
weekend and is vital to keep all of our staff
informed and connected as we continue to
grow.
I hope you enjoy reading about some of
the great activities that our boys have been
involved in so far this year!
Gerard Neesham
Clontarf Foundation CEO
www.clontarf.org.au
The Clontarf boys at Endeavour Sports High
School (Sydney) have taken to the Clontarf
programme since it started in March.
Endeavour Academy boys helping
to prepare their Academy room.
Mount Austin Academy students, teachers and supporters
turned out to celebrate the official opening in February.
Clontarf Hits The Pacific
Mount Austin Celebrates Official Opening
The Foundation is very excited to have opened our first
programme on the Pacific Ocean – Endeavour Academy
(NSW) located at Endeavour Sports High School (ESHS)
in Sydney.
ESHS and nearby Kirinari Aboriginal Boys Hostel have a long
history of hosting Aboriginal boys from regional NSW – boys
who are seeking to further their education and/or possibly carve
out a sporting career for themselves.
Given Endeavour’s proud sporting tradition, it is both fitting
and fortunate that school teacher and former NRL great Jeff
Hardy has joined us to head the Academy. Eronny Mareko, a
former head boy of the school, will be his Operations Officer.
As well as being important for the school and its students
Jeff also believes that Endeavour has strategic significance
for the Foundation. “The establishment of our first Academy
in metropolitan Sydney is extremely exciting”, Jeff says. “Its
proximity to the city will allow our Sydney based partners,
representatives of government and the like to visit the Academy
and better understand the way that we work.”
The Endeavour Academy has 45 students enrolled in
its programme. About half of these are local boys. The
remainder, who are all boarding at Kirinari are country boys
from a number of regional NSW towns and communities
including Walgett, Kempsey, Wauchope, Enngonia, Lake
Cargelligo and Moree.
On 27 February Mount Austin Academy (NSW) entertained members
of the Wagga community along with a number of special guests at the
official opening of the Academy.
The special event also presented the Academy with an opportunity to showcase
the progress that its boys had made and demonstrate the extent to which they had
embraced the programme since its introduction to the school two short months
previously.
As they arrived, each guest was greeted by the boys with plenty of handshakes
and then ushered to their seat.
After all guests were seated and a ‘Welcome to Country’ from a local Aboriginal
elder, Academy member and MC for the event, Jayden Husband commenced
the formalities by inviting School Principal Mrs. Susan Lockwood to welcome
everybody to her school. Academy members Lyle Honeysett and Jordan then spoke
about their impressions of ‘Life with Clontarf’. Both lads spoke with confidence and
passion, impressing guests, teachers and peers alike.
Clontarf’s Chairman Mr Ross Kelly then introduced the Minister for Aboriginal
Affairs, Mr Victor Dominello, who officially opened the Academy. Finally, local MP
Mr Daryl McGuire made a closing address. All speakers stressed how important it
was for the first group of Mount Austin Academy boys to set an example for those
who would follow them and how, if they did, they could help change Wagga and
the school forever.
At the close of official proceedings guests were escorted to the Academy room for
morning tea and a chance to mingle and learn more about the new Academy and its
boys’ hopes and dreams.
The opening was a memorable
occasion for all concerned and
particularly for the boys, who celebrated
by insisting that they remain in their
special dress uniforms – Academy shirt,
sharply creased long black trousers and
shiny black shoes – for the rest of the
The Hon. Victor Dominello, MP was
a special guest at the opening.
day!
With the opening in February of the Dubbo Senior Academy
catering for Year 11s and 12s, Dubbo College (NSW) now boasts
191 Clontarf boys across three campuses - the Senior campus
and two junior campuses (Dubbo South and Delroy). Both of the
junior campus Academies commenced operations in the latter
half of 2014.
www.clontarf.org.au
the QUARTERLY May 2015 | 3
Engaging Programmes
to Engage Students
There’s a lot more to Clontarf than football - and there needs to be! It takes variety and innovation to keep young
Aboriginal men engaged in education!
The Clontarf Foundation believes that the failure of many Aboriginal people to obtain an adequate education (coupled with a
lack of the life skills needed to participate fully in modern society) locks them into a cycle of disadvantage and creates the gap
that exists between their life outcomes and those of other Australians.
A significant proportion of Aboriginal boys consider their regular attendance at school to be optional. The Clontarf Foundation
employs highly functional men to work with schools to deliver a programme that attracts young Aboriginal men back to school,
makes them feel welcome, confident and wanted, and encourages and supports their participation in formal education.
Aboriginal boys disengage from school mainly because of:
• their inability to cope with school discipline or the curriculum,
• their failure to form positive relationships with their teachers,
• the absence of positive role models and/or a lack of parental support for education, and
• pressure from their peers to become involved in activities other than schooling.
In order to counteract these negative inputs, the Clontarf programme, as well as being educational, needs to
appeal to boys with a diverse range interests, challenge them, and be delivered in a manner that ‘fires them up’.
Our staff members work hard to come up with innovative ideas and vibrant, exciting programme elements. Typical examples
are outlined below.
Cookin’ With TC
Every Tuesday – while the bell is still sounding the end of the school day – the boys from the Katherine Academy (NT) rush to
the Home Economics room to take part in ‘Cooking with TC’ – a cooking class run by Operations Officer and ‘foodie’ Tommy
‘Tuckerbox’ Cameron.
As well as promoting healthy eating and teaching the boys how to cook a number of
quick nutritious meals for themselves, their friends and their families, TC’s after school
sessions teach food hygiene and knife safety, demonstrate the value of teamwork and
serve to counter the formality of a normal school day.
Class favourites to date include delectable peach chicken skewers, bacon and egg filo
pies, and ham and noodle frittata, though we have been told that the best is yet to come.
According to Tommy, “The whole process is student focused. It provides the
boys with fantastic opportunities to research food of various types, assemble
ingredients, create various dishes and finally, to enjoy them”.
4 | the QUARTERLY May 2015
www.clontarf.org.au
Karratha Slip ‘n Slide
Halls Creek Radio Show
Bike Riding Around Australia
Karratha, situated as it is in WA’s
Pilbara, can get blazingly hot in
summer. Even the earliest of early
morning footy training sessions
can be sweaty, sticky affairs.
“Goooood Moooorning Halls Creek!!!”
Term 1 has seen students from 36 of our
Academies around the country ‘cycle up a
storm’, thanks to the generous donation of over
600 mountain bikes and helmets to Clontarf
through one of its partners, Coca-Cola.
Not for the crew of Clontarf’s
Karratha Academy however, as
after training they cool down with
‘splashdowns’ on the ‘slip ‘n slide’ –
a 20 metre square tarpaulin liberally
laced with detergent and water – that
they set up on the edge of the school
oval.
The response to this initiative has
been astounding. Even on the hottest
days, up to 80 Clontarf boys turn out,
train and then use the ‘slip ‘n slide’ to
let off steam and build camaraderie.
“It’s important to engage the
boys from the start of each year
and this is when it’s at its hottest”,
notes Karratha Academy Operations
Officer Michael Goss. “As well as
cooling everyone down, our ‘slip ‘n
slide’ allows boys who aren’t that
great at football to become involved
and feel included.”
Clontarf’s Halls Creek Academy (WA)
once again hit the airwaves with the
regular community radio show that its
boys produce.
Designed to help presenters develop
leadership and public speaking skills, each
one hour radio show is hosted by a different
group of senior students who communicate
‘all things Clontarf’ to a wide audience via
public radio.
Halls Creek Academy Director Michael
Lay believes that as well as developing the
boys, the radio show also delivers positive
flow-on effects to the school and local
community.
“The boys structure the show to
include upcoming Clontarf events,
interview their teachers, choose the
music and generally serve as a positive
presence within the community.”
“Every broadcast day the Academy room
is filled with boys keen to support their
fellow classmates. It also opens the boys’
eyes to a possible career in radio”, Michael
adds.
Our boys have taken to the sport with
enthusiasm because as well as being
great exercise it allows them to participate
individually or as part of a team as well as to
travel long distances independently.
Victoria’s Robinvale Academy is typical.
As an alternative to football training, a group
of Academy members have formed an early
morning cycling club and complete a 15km
circuit around town a couple of times a week.
They have also linked with the local police
who assisted them to assemble their bikes and
trained them to ride safely.
“I love being outside riding with my
mates”, says Year 10 student Jed Pettit,
a newcomer to cycling. “Sometimes we
do time trials to see who can beat last
week’s record.”
The Robinvale Academy cycling club has also
commenced training for a 90 km ride to Mildura
that it plans to undertake later in the year.
Armidale Dance Group
Several years ago a group of boys from the Armidale Academy (NSW), with the assistance of the Academy’s staff, formed the
Armidale Academy Dance Group.
The boys now really own the project and meet weekly to practice as well as develop
new routines.
“Our dances tell the stories of our ancestral heroes”, says Year 10 student Dennis
Cutmore. “We have learnt different routines for different events, it keeps the
group fresh and it builds our confidence.”
The group, which is now in great demand, has performed recently at the opening of
new buildings and also at a ceremony to induct new students into the University of New
England. All of these events required them to perform in front of large audiences.
Their most recent success is an ongoing project with the Department of Environment
and Heritage. The department has commissioned the boys to develop and perfect an
‘Ibis’ dance that will form part of a DVD on these birds migratory pattern within the New
England region.
www.clontarf.org.au
the QUARTERLY May 2015 | 5
Darwin Academies came together to
do their bit on Clean Up Australia Day.
Casuarina Academy (NT) boys
cleaning up Rapid Creek.
Clean Up Australia Day
This year, ‘Clean Up Australia Day’ was held in Term 1 and, as in
previous years, a number of our Academies around the country
seized the opportunity to take part and involve their boys in giving
back to their communities.
Clontarf encourages its boys to participate in community events and in the
case of ‘Clean Up Australia Day’, the boys for their part, take great pride in
making a visible difference; often taking ‘ownership’ of an area by returning
throughout the year to remove rubbish or address any environmental damage
if and when it occurs.
Working with the Darwin University Enviro Collective and the Rapid Creek
Landcare Group, over 50 boys from our Darwin Academies (Casuarina,
Kormilda, Palmerston, Rosebery, Dripstone, Sanderson and Nightcliff) got
up early on a Sunday morning in March to scour the beach, mangroves and
bush areas around Casuarina Coastal Reserve and Rapid Creek and collect
over 100 bags of rubbish that included everything from empty bottles to old
school bags.
Lesley Alford (Secretary of the Rapid Creek Landcare Group) remarked,
“The students impressed our members with their hard work, politeness and
the respect they showed to other community volunteers. Having students
from all seven Academies made a major difference to what we could achieve
at the event”.
Other Academies to participate in similar events included: The Dubbo South
Academy (NSW) who teamed up with younger students from Orana Heights
Public School to clean their
school yards and surrounding
bushland, the Warrnambool
Academy (VIC) who joined
local Rotary members to spruce
up their end of town, and the
Carnarvon Academy (WA) boys
Lesley Alford of Rapid Creek Landcare Group
who helped clean-up after
thanking the Clontarf boys for their efforts.
Cyclone Olwyn which ravaged
much of their town in March.
6 | the QUARTERLY May 2015
The Indigenous All-Stars alongside the
West Coast Eagles. Photo: AFL Images
Clontarf Well Represented In
The Indigenous All-Stars Game
Nobody who has ever watched a Clontarf football match doubts
that many of Clontarf’s young men have loads and loads of
talent and indeed over the 15 years of its existence more than
30 of Clontarf’s ‘old boys’ have been drafted into the AFL.
In February this year, seven of these who are currently on AFL lists
reached a further milestone in their careers by being selected in the
AFL Indigenous All-Stars side to play against the West Coast Eagles at
Medibank Stadium, Leederville.
Those selected were Jack Martin and Jarrod Garlett (Gold Coast),
Curtly Hampton (Greater Western Sydney), Jermaine Miller-Lewis
(Hawthorn), Neville Jetta (Melbourne), Jake Neade (Port Adelaide) and
Lewis Jetta (Sydney).
In the days leading up to the clash, they joined other injured squad
members including former Clontarf graduates Patrick Ryder and
Nathan Krakouer (Port Adelaide), Jed Anderson (Hawthorn), Michael
Johnson (Fremantle) and Chris Yarran (Carlton) in a range of community
activities held across Perth.
Some of our current students were
also fortunate enough to have an
opportunity to meet these former
Clontarf stars and gain some valuable
advice in the process.
We commend each of these Clontarf
alumni as they continue to impress
both on and off the football field
and demonstrate the importance of
completing Year 12 whether you are
becoming a professional sportsman or
South West Academy alumni
entering the workforce. You are all a
Lewis Jetta before the match.
Photo: AFL Images
credit to yourself, your families and of
course - Clontarf!
www.clontarf.org.au
Mick James (far left) coaching the Centralian Sea Eagles to
victory at the 2013 Territory Cup in Alice Springs.
Staff in the Spotlight: Mick James
A Day On The Hassad Farm
Establishing a new Academy is a challenging, exciting and rewarding
experience.
For most of our staff and their families, with current Port Adelaide player Jake
being involved in an Academy start up Neade as another highlight of his time in
represents an opportunity to become Alice.
immersed in a new community, make new
“Jake arrived at Yirara College Boarding
friends, ‘earn their stripes’ with a new School from Elliott, a remote community half
group of boys and get to know a different way between Alice Springs and Darwin as a
part of the country. If you don’t believe us, 13 year old”, Mick recalls. His father Chris
here’s what Mick James thinks –
sent him and his brother Ben to the school
“In 2007 the Foundation took a bold step to be a part of the Clontarf programme.
and decided to expand out of Western Despite the many challenges he has had
Australia and into the Northern Territory. to face and in particular being away from
I was part of the first team to establish family from a young age, Jake has gone on
an Academy in Alice Springs”, Mick to set the foundation for a successful AFL
career. Not only that, but
remembers. “We felt like
“We felt like we he’s the shortest player in
we were trail blazing on
a new frontier. At the
were trail blazing the AFL!
time Clontarf had only six
In 2013, the opportunity
Academies established in on a new frontier.” to move back to Victoria
the West so generating a
presented itself and Mick
presence in the Territory is something I’m took on the Director’s role at the Mildura
very proud of.”
Academy (80km from Robinvale) that had
Growing up in Robinvale in Victoria, been established three years prior.
Mick became involved with Indigenous
As well as knowing how to open a new
recruitment, mentoring and apprenticeship Academy, Mick also understands what it
support. He then joined Clontarf and took takes to develop an Academy to maturity
on the Director’s role at Yirara College (NT). - a process that generally takes five years;
Mick found his time in Alice Springs the time needed for the junior boys to come
rewarding and eye-opening. “Working through the programme and become senior
with the remote students at Yirara leaders who understand and exemplify the
College Boarding School for many years spirit and values of their Academy.
was very memorable”, he said. “The
“After five years and a lot of hard
kids have uniquely warm and generous work by a number of people, the Mildura
personalities and it was a privilege to programme now exhibits all the elements
have the opportunity to spend time in their of bona fide Clontarf operation”, Mick says
communities.”
but then adds, “There’s still a lot that we
Mick also considers his involvement can do to make it even better.”
During 2014, Hassad Australia became the first company
within the agricultural sector to enter into a partnership
with Clontarf. Given that a significant number of
Academies are located in rural areas and also that after
graduation most of our boys seek employment close to
where they live, the Hassad partnership could not be
more appropriate.
The Hassad Group owns and operates farms across the
country. Englefield Plains situated approximately 60km from
Wagga Wagga is typical. In April students and staff from our
Mount Austin Academy (NSW) had the opportunity to visit
Englefield Plains as part of a worksite visit.
Although they were impressed by the sheer size of the property
and the scope of its cropping and cattle activities, it was the
gigantic farm machinery that captured and held their attention.
And it was Year 10 student Liam Whytecross who became the
envy of all present when, assisted by property manager Rolf
Hartge, he was given a shot at driving one of the giant headers.
None of the boys involved in the visit had had any previous
exposure to farming life, so for all of them it was a truly unique
experience. In the car returning to school, significantly, one
of the boys mentioned that he could see himself working at
Englefield Plains. Maybe he will be the first of many Clontarf
boys to work for Hassad. We certainly hope so!
A big thank you to Rolf for being so hospitable and also for
taking the trouble to pass on some of his extensive farming
knowledge and wisdom to the boys.
www.clontarf.org.au
Mount Austin Academy boys and property manager
Rolf Hartge pose in front of one of the farm’s tractors.
the QUARTERLY May 2015 | 7
Over 200 Clontarf staff came together in March for
the annual Professional Development weekend.
Professional Development Weekend in Broome
Each year the Clontarf Foundation brings together every member or its staff for a weekend to take
part in a Professional Development conference (PD). This year’s PD was held between 27th and
29th March in Broome – over 200 staff members flew in from all over the country to participate.
During the Friday afternoon prior to the
The PD provides a forum for staff members to get
together to further develop their skills, gain a deeper commencement of the conference, all participants
understanding of the Foundation’s mission and worked in a voluntary capacity on one of a number of
direction, learn from their peers (particularly those community projects that were held around Broome.
These involved:
from other states) and socialise.
This year the theme of the weekend was ‘A • visiting a hospital and an aged care facility to
entertain residents,
National Programme – A National Approach’ – the
objective being to ensure that irrespective of where • planting trees,
they are located, all Academies understand and • conducting a clinic for junior footballers,
adhere to the Foundation’s underlying Principles • carrying out maintenance on the Kyle Andrew’s
and take a similar approach to delivering their
Foundation house,
programmes.
• cleaning up the community,
The weekend also provided an opportunity for
• washing cars and donating the funds raised to a
various staff members to share ‘lessons learnt’
local charity, and
with their peers as well as take part in a series of
• distributing food parcels to the needy.
practical exercises designed to hone their skills and
Broome Shire President Graeme Campbell
improve performance. Overall, 65 different sessions
summed
up the exercise, “This is the second year
were held and focussed on:
that Clontarf staff members have volunteered
• the Foundation’s Operating Principles,
their time in the Broome community and this year
• examples of best practice, and
they contributed 400 volunteer hours. The Broome
• quick tips capable of easy implementation.
community greatly appreciates their efforts”.
13th Annual Broome To Bicton Concert
Each summer the Clontarf Foundation holds an outdoor concert at Quarantine Park in Bicton
WA, near Fremantle. Once again this year’s event featured widely acclaimed Broome group The
Pigram Brothers, with well-known Perth entertainer Dave ‘Tiger’ Regan in support.
Clontarf first hosted the event 13 years ago for two reasons:
• to raise awareness of the Foundation and
• to stage a community event where Indigenous and non-Indigenous people
can come together to enjoy an evening of great music on the bank of Swan
River.
Both these reasons continue to be valid today.
The event has grown in popularity – aided no doubt by the fact that from time to time and unheralded,
celebrities such as Paul Kelly, Archie Roach, John Butler and the cast of Bran Nue Dae have dropped in and
performed – to the point where this year’s concert drew a record crowd estimated at 5,000.
Tennant Creek Academy (NT) graduate Marcellus Ah Kit, who is currently living in Perth completing a
horticultural traineeship was MC for the night and kept the crowd entertained with stories of his time in the
Academy and what it means to be an ‘old boy’.
Dave ‘Tiger’ Regan opened the evening’s entertainment with upbeat tunes which got people – young and
old – up and dancing. Then as the sun was setting over the river, the Pigram Brothers came on and captivated
the crowd with a selection of songs from their acclaimed repertoire.
The evening concluded in the traditional manner with all participating artists assembling on the stage to
lead the record crowd in a rousing rendition (followed by several encores) of Clontarf’s theme tune – Paul
Kelly and Kev Carmody’s Australian classic, ‘From Little Things Big Things Grow’.
Thank you for
your support
Clontarf would like to acknowledge
the following organisations for
their recent commitment to support
the Foundation:
• Department of Prime Minister & Cabinet
• SKILLED Group • Clough Foundation
• CITIC Pacific Mining
• Cameron
• Qube Ports & Bulk
• Qantas
• Dalara Foundation
• Spotless
• BMD Constructions
Workplace Giving & Donations
There are a significant number of individuals
who support the Clontarf Foundation
through donations and work place giving
programmes.
We are very appreciative and thank you
for your ongoing support. If you would like
to donate directly please follow this link
or alternatively, Qantas Frequent Flyer
members can now redeem their points for a
cash donation to the Clontarf Foundation by
following this link.
Click
here to
download
our 2014
Annual
Report
from our
website.
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Clontarf Foundation Central Office
McKay Street,
BENTLEY WA 6102
Ph (08) 9356 2500
Fax (08) 9356 2555
info@clontarffoundation.com.au
clontarf
www.clontarf.org.au
foundation