Sports Stars Shine at Timber Creek, N.T.

On 1st June 2009, 130 children from Timber Creek, Yarralin, Amanbidji, Pigeon Hole and Bulla remote Northern Territory schools packed their sneakers, sports clothes and smiling faces for a fun-filled week of physical activity with Sports Challenge.
The Sports Challenge team, sponsored by DrinkWise Australia, was greeted by a sea of very excited faces when they traveled to Timber Creek in the Northern Territory for the annual ‘West is Best Carnival’.  For five days, the Timber Creek racecourse became a hive of activity and colour as more than one hundred kids laughed, lived and competed together.
The primary school students, who camped out on the racetrack for the week, were full of energy and enthusiasm as the Sports Challenge coaches led them through a number of challenging activities aimed at promoting healthy, active lifestyles.
Led by Garry Tester, Leah Pitts, Chris De Boer and Keigan Landon, in conjunction with Jess Wattke from Katherine’s YMCA, the children completed many challenging activities designed to improve cooperation and communication. Activities including ‘Parachute’, ‘Swamp Crossing’, ‘The Grid’ and ‘Crocodile’ allowed the children to practise and develop their skills in a variety of problem-solving and sporting contexts in promoting collegiate spirit.
Thursday the 4th of June was the annual athletics carnival, where the Sports Challenge coaches marshaled and encouraged the children through a number of individual and team events.
Many of the children showed great sporting prowess at the 2009 “West is Best Carnival.”  Perhaps one of Australia’s future sporting stars is hidden amongst this group…..
All in all, a great time was had by everyone involved. The children left with new friendships, increased confidence and fantastic memories.  The Sports Challenge team left ‘pumped’ knowing they had assisted these young children in life’s uncertain journey.