YOUR local
ISSUE 015 FRIDAY, 16 MARCH, 2018
6 PAGE RACING GUIDE
YOUR INDEPENDENT COMMUNITY
PAGE 9
PAPER
WEEKLY REAL ESTATE INSERT
Kevin Sheedy’s Country Games bringing people together pennie scott
Kevin Sheedy in Wagga.
Presented by THE HERALD OF HOPE MAGAZINE
FIVE speaking engagements a week, including in Wagga yesterday, is the norm for Kevin Sheedy at present - informing, inspiring, uplifting and challenging audiences to learn, do something different and take another perspective on situations. Formerly known for his illustrious career playing and coaching Australian Rules Football, Kevin has created and been involved with many projects, including establishing AFL SportReady, a national notfor-profit company which has facilitated employment and education opportunities for more than 14,000 young Australians, including 2000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. As well as receiving honorary doctorates from the University of Western Sydney and The Australian Catholic University, he has written eight books and was awarded the title of 2009 Australian Thinker of the Year. Kevin’s promotion of Indigenous people has helped many change the way they think about Indigenous Australians. And he has never been frightened to say, or do, something that might at first seem wrong, even controversial. He sees being prepared to get on the front foot about a subject and get people talking about it as a part of his leadership role in the community. “Sometimes you’ve got to stir things up, get people thinking about an idea they might not have thought of,” Kevin said. “I just love finding a few spare minutes in the day to think about thinking!” “Next month, I’m in Western Australia with the Nyungar people whose country is between Geraldton and Esperance. Seventeen thousand people live here and 68 first class AFL players have come from this mob,” he said. “We are making a $1.5 million documentary to learn and share the extraordinary sporting skills these people have. “We live in a huge country and I try to get to as many places as possible and meet the great country people who live here.” The Country Games AFL series is in its third year and is aimed at providing the opportunity for city people to learn about life in the country, from the people who live there. “Essendon and Geelong are two of the four oldest clubs in the league and this game is an opportunity for supporters of both clubs to come together. Essendon has more than 65,000 members so the game on 19 May is at the MCG as Kardinia Park isn’t big enough to hold the crowds,” Kevin said. Accompanying Kevin in Wagga was former Essendon captain, James Hird. James played 253 games and had a controversial period during 2011 to 2013 when the Essendon club was suspended for a year for its controversial supplements program. “This was a very traumatic time for James”, Kevin explained. “And he’s going to talk about how tough it was when he tried to take his own life. Depression and trauma are more prevalent than is obvious. But it’s only when they are brought into the open we, as a community, can support those who are at breaking point,” he said. The first stop for Kevin was the Sporting Hall of Fame to familiarise himself with all the athletic achievements from the City of Good Sports. Kevin Sheedy and James Hird were the special guests last night at Danny Crouch’s fundraising event, Legends of AFL, for Thomas Bros Wagga Take Two, which attracted more than 300 guests. “My charity is Country Hope and singing partner is Mel Donges, who is a great singer and coach for this novice entertainer,” Danny claimed. Thomas Bros Wagga Take Two finals are on 19, 20 and 21 April.
Bible Prophecy Conference Thursday 29th March to Sunday 1st April 2018
Thursday 7pm - Friday 10am & 6pm - Saturday 10am & 6pm - Sunday 9:30, 11am & 6pm
Wagga Wagga Independent Baptist Church - 34 Northcott Parade, Mount Austin 02 6926 5804 - www.indbaptwaggakjv.com