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Mental health training for junior footy JUNIOR football league executives are being trained to spot youngest with mental health problems. The focus on mental health is part of the first aid training being given at every club in the Mornington Peninsula Junior Football League. Course participants will learn about adolescent development; the signs and symptoms of common and disabling mental health problems in young people; where and how to get help when a young person is developing a mental illness; what sort of help has been shown to be effective, and how to provide first aid in a crisis situation. “The hope is to equip each club with the necessary skills that will aid them in better supporting their players’ health and wellbeing, with an emphasis on mental health,” the mayor Cr Bev Colomb said. “Hopefully, over time this intervention will contribute to a reduction in depressive symptoms among our young people.” The league’s health and wellbeing officer Bek Mantell said the league was grateful to be involved in this “fantastic initiative”. “The Mornington Peninsula Junior Football League, along with affiliated clubs, feel football is often at the heart of the community and, therefore, it offers a great avenue to support young people,” she said. “All our junior clubs across the peninsula have nominated one, if not two, volunteers to become health and wellbeing officers within our football community. “Officers will be accessible around the clubs and are all dedicated to ensuring our youth feel safe and supported. Training will also be extended to club committee members and coaches in the hope of maximising the benefits of the training.”
Field of support: Graduates of the youth mental health first aid training with footy players at BlueScope Reserve, Hastings. Picture: supplied
Cadel karts his way to the winners’ circle IT’S taken just 14 months for nine-year-old Cadel Ambrose to get to the front in go karting. Cadel, of Bittern, won the second round of the Australian kart championships at Geelong two weekends ago when racing in a field of 18 seven to nine year olds, including last year’s winner. The next championship race will be in late May at Monarto in South Australia. “He’s come a long way in a short time,” his mother Suzie Morrell said. “It’s not surprising he likes to drive as his father [Rohan Ambrose] and my father [Geoff Morrell] raced cars in the improved production categories. We never pushed Cadel, it just happened naturally.” Cadel, who has already picked up a few sponsors for his efforts in the 60cc go karts, has his sights set on driving a V8 Supercar or even Formula 1 when he gets older. Although lightly powered, the go karts can reach almost 100kph in the straight. Cadel’s championship win came after qualifying fourth after four heats, giving him pole position for the 16 kilometre 21-lap final. “After a fantastic start Cadel dominated the race from turn one, fighting off all challengers to take the chequered flag,” Ms Morrell said. She said Cadel began go kart racing in January last year after graduating from the Junior Sprockets program run by Karting Australia. His win at Geelong saw him being the first graduate from the program to achieve a podium finish at an Australian Kart Championship round. “After the first round in Newcastle in February, Cadel was ranked 10th in the championship but his results at Geelong have elevated him to third,” Ms Morrell, who also drives go karts, said. Until he graduates to the bigger cars Cadel will no doubt get used to wiping off – and drinking – the non-alcoholic “champagne” that’s sprayed on the winner’s podium. Keith Platt
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Frankston Times
10 April 2017
Thumbs up: Getting to the front in go karting hasn’t been a problem for Cadel Ambrose, left, who won a championship at Geelong two weekends ago. After his win, above, he was given the traditional winner’s spray - non-alcoholic. Below, Cadel steers his number 94 to victory. Pictures: Pace Images