THE TOWN of Cygnet is nestled in the beautiful Huon Valley about 50 kilometres south of Hobart. It’s home to a number of apple orchards, various streams full of trout, some lovely views, about two and a half thousand people – and St James College.
St James is a co-educational Catholic school with just over 300 students attending kindergarten to grade 10. And it’s a school that will be getting right into the spirit of Kick Around Australia Day on Thursday August 7, when children from kindergarten up to grade 4 will be joining kids from schools all over the country in commemorating 150 years of footy.
“For those younger age groups we’re going to be dedicating the whole afternoon to football,” says junior school PE teacher Donna Duggan. “We’re going to just turn the second half of the day into a big celebration of footy for them.”
The day’s celebrations will begin at lunchtime with a special “meal deal” at the school canteen which includes, of course, a meat pie. Once the pies have been scoffed down the kids will then congregate at a large hall near the school which is going to be converted into an “AFL centre” for the day.
There the kids will change into their favourite club colours and festivities will begin. Donna has deliberately chosen a series of activities that will appeal to as many of the children as possible. So in addition to a handballing competition there will be colouring in competitions and a karaoke competition where the children get up on stage to sing their favourite club song. And of course, many faces will also be painted.
“We don’t want anyone to feel left out,” she says, “so we’re trying to organise a whole range of activities that both boys and girls, the younger ones and the older ones, will all enjoy.”
Children with no allegiance to particular clubs will be encouraged to choose club colours that they like, and to wear clothes (not necessarily footy gear) in those colours, or a mix of them.
“They might just want to wear black and yellow because they like tigers,” says Donna.
And since August 7 is called Kick Around Australia Day, no celebrations marking the day would be complete without someone actually sinking their boot into the leather.
“I’m not sure whether we’ll have a competition or not, or just get the kids out on the oval near the hall for some kick to kick,” says Donna.
Anticipation is already building and the kids at St James can’t wait till the day.
“I get asked by at least one young one every day if it’s on tomorrow,” says Donna. “They’re very excited.”
