Take your marks! Get Set! Go!
And the children of five remote Northern Territory community schools were off on a day of running races, novelty games, relays and engaging in each other’s company.
- Children taking part in the sack race at the West is Best Carnival
The ‘West is Best’ Athletics Carnival was instigated by Sports Challenge CEO Dr Garry Tester some eight years ago for the schools of Timber Creek, Bulla Camp School, Amanbiji, Pigeon Hole and Yarrilin. The aim is to bring together the small remote schools to promote a collegiate spirit between students, teachers and families over a few days of athletic pursuits, plus professional development for teachers and communities. It also enables the students to get to know their peers from around the region.
Timber Creek is a beautiful setting for the camp out and carnival, located on the banks of the picturesque Victoria River in the far north, half way between Kununurra in the West and Katherine in the East.
- The stunning sunset on the Victoria River near Timber Creek
Unfortunately budget cutbacks from the NT Education Department meant Timber Creek Principal Jedda Trueman needed more than ever the ongoing support of the Sports Challenge team to deliver the logistics needed to make the carnival a success.
Sports Challenge coordinator and Australian women’s basketball player Deanna Smith, Senior Mentor Kye Middleton and Dr Tester rallied to the cause, marking out the oval, establishing and printing programs, and running the carnival for the excited students.
- Mentor Kye and Programs Coordinator Deanna under a Boab Tree near Timber Creek
What fun and spirited competition occurred with the egg and spoon race, along with the sack races. The scoreboard did not matter at the end of the day. The success could be seen in the beaming faces of the exhausted children, teachers and families as they devoured their BBQ dinner provided by Timber Creek School, laughing and talking with each other into the evening.
As Deanna explained, “I have played basketball all over the world, but I have never received such a warm and sincere welcome as these remote children have given me – bring on more visits!”
