Last week, over 300 Shepparton students took part in a once in a lifetime opportunity - being coached and inspired by Aussie Olympians through the A.S.P.I.R.E Leadership Program.
The program is funded by Sport and Recreation Victoria and delivered by the Victorian Olympic Council. It aims to connect regional communities and local school students with Olympians, to increase participation in sport and promote a balanced and healthy lifestyle.
The grade five and six students from across 15 schools in the Greater Shepparton region had the opportunity to interact with 11 of Australia’s inspiring Olympic heroes, one of them being Rio 2016 swimmer, Kotuku Ngawati.
Ngawati said the program is one she wishes she had access to as a child, which is why she jumped on board.
“The A.S.P.I.R.E. Leadership Program is a wonderful opportunity for regional communities such as schools and local sporting clubs to come together,” she said.
“Being able to inspire the next generation is so rewarding because throughout my primary school days I never had this opportunity and I would have loved it. Being able to give back is what drew me to the program.”
Using their personal experiences, Olympians shared messages referring to the values in sport and how these can be transferred to everyday life.
Students not only had the opportunity to interact with Olympians, but also hear insights from their Games experiences; with local club representatives, coaches and elite athletes on hand to also share their stories and the positive impact sport has had in their life.
The Shepparton program was the seventh in this series, which saw schools take part in sporting clinics with local clubs such as;
• Shepparton Little Athletics Club
• Shepparton Junior Soccer Association
• Shepparton Badminton Association
• Goulburn Valley Hockey Association
• Shepparton Table Tennis Association
Being a regional town, access to Olympic role models is limited, which is why these programs have been implemented - with the ultimate goal of inspiring students to pursue their own dreams and adopt a healthy lifestyle.
“Having 11 Olympians in Shepparton is very rare and for them to be able to demonstrate their skills and knowledge of their particular sport to grade 5 and 6 students is very exciting,” Ngawati said.
“To see the enjoyment the students get whilst learning and trying a different sport, is such a highlight.
“The sports on offer are potentially ones that the students may have never tried or heard of before, so introducing them to it through this program creates a pathway for future development,” she continued.
“It was a great eye-opener to students, that showed them that sport is fun and such a fantastic opportunity for them to discover their passion.
“If we can inspire at least one student, it’s a step in the right direction to live a healthy and active lifestyle through sport.”
Olympians in attendance included:
• Andrew Smith Hockey – 2008 Beijing bronze medallist
• Greta Small Alpine Skiing – 2014 Sochi, 2018 PyeongChang
• Koti Ngawati Swimming – 2016 Rio
• Melissa Tapper Table Tennis – 2016 Rio
• Monica Brennan Athletics – 2016 Rio
• Peter Blackburn Badminton – 2004 Athens, 2000 Sydney
• Robin Middleton Badminton – 2016 Rio
• Russell Lavale Table Tennis – 1996 Atlanta, 2000 Sydney, 2004 Athens
• Sean Wroe Athletics – 2008 Beijing
• Selin Kuralay Football – 2004 Athens
• Stuart Carruthers Hockey – 1996 Atlanta bronze medallist
If you want to learn more about the AOC's community programs, head to https://www.olympics.com.au/resources/community-and-schools/
Liana Buratti
