GOVERNOR GENERAL VISITS TIMBER CREEK NT PROGRAM

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The Governor General of Australia Her Excellency Ms Quentin Bryce visited the Sports Challenge program in the remote school of Timber Creek in May 2010.  The Office of Governor General through former GG Major General Michael Jeffery have been great supporters of the Sports Challenge programs and Ms Quentin Bryce is no exception.
With her husband Mr Michael Bryce (pictured below with Senior Mentor CJ Jackson) and her team, they spent half a day with the children and teachers of the school along with Sports Challenge CEO Dr Garry Tester, Programs Coordinator Jacqui Finnegan and Senior Mentors CJ Jackson and Marita Payne.

The visit culminates a seven year partnership between Timber Creek and Sports Challenge in improving attendance, mental and physical health, resilience, life skills and real aspirations for the future.

Objective longitudinal data has shown that the program has been a resounding success. Moreover it has been the fantastic loyalty and trust between the Sports Challenge staff, the teachers, parents and the children built over time that really makes this a ‘lighthouse’ program for remote communities.
As the Governor General explained “You can see how all the hard work has paid off by just looking at the smiling faces of the happy children, with that glint in their eyes, that their dreams and hopes can be achieved”.