NUDGEE COLLEGE SPORT IN THE COMMUNITY

At the end of each year, the Nudgee College Sport department puts down their whistles, stopwatches, straw hats and clipboards; and takes time out to reflect, assess, analyse and look for ways to continue to grow and improve for the year ahead.

One of the key themes that came out of last year’s planning day was the desire to have a positive impact on our wider community by spreading our sporting resources beyond the College gates.

Whilst running community sport clinics is not a new concept for the school, our goal in 2022 has been to increase our reach and provide a Nudgee College sporting experience to as many communities as possible. Across Swimming, Football and Rugby clinics, so far this year we have already reached more than 1,000 boys and girls from Townsville, the Sunshine Coast, Greater Brisbane, Yamba, Goondiwindi, Chinchilla and Roma. We still have more to come this year for these sports, as well as Nudgee College Cricket.

There have been many highlights of the year so far:

Rugby

• In February we visited St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School Chinchilla and took the Years 5 and 6 classes through a rugby skills and modified games clinic.

• As part of the 1st XV’s Easter camp, we ran a community clinic at Kawana for approximately 80 local juniors. The squad and coaches assisted, giving the locals a great experience.

• During the Easter break we ran a clinic in Yamba on the way through to Armidale. Forty-five local junior players and coaches enjoyed an indoor training/ coach education session (fields were still closed due to flooding). We handed out nearly 100 pairs of boots (donated through the boot drive) and also some training gear (balls, tackle bags, etc.) for those flood-affected communities in this region.

• An under 13 Boarding team played two games at the Country Rugby Day in Goondiwindi in May against The Southport School boarders and the local Goondiwindi Emus side. We also ran some community clinics for more than 100 local junior players while we were at the grounds.

• The Roma Echidnas hosted us for a clinic for 40 local rugby league players as part of our visit for the Roma Rugby Race Day weekend at the end of June.

Chinchilla Rugby clinic in February.

Swimming

• In January, Nudgee College Swimming and Boarding staff, as well as three students, attended Goondiwindi to host a Swimming clinic across two days. More than 100 boys and girls from the region attended. The group also enjoyed a barbecue at the conclusion of day two.

Goondiwindi Swimming Clinic in January.

Football

Locally and regionally, Nudgee College Football and our Tottenham Hotspur partnership engaged with close to 400 young footballers so far this year.

• Two-day camp in June in partnership with Edds Football Academy in Townsville.

• Eight-week programs with Moreton Bay Academy and Virginia United Academy, which ran from April to June.

• Several events with Caloundra Football Academy throughout the first half of 2022.

• Six additional Football clinics open to local players in January, April, May and June.

Townsville Football clinic in June.

Nudgee College Sport is heading to the following locations in the second half of 2022:

• 31 August Rockhampton (Rugby)

• 16-18 September Warwick and Dalby (Cricket)

• 18-19 September Roma (Swimming)

For more information email devcomm@nudgee.qld.edu.au or call (07) 3865 0314.

WRITTEN BY ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF SPORT MR SEAN GRAHAM