Visitors’ booty for Fiji children

By Ed Merrison
FOUR sports mad local mates have been busy getting the ball rolling for a philanthropic sports tour of Fiji.
Ferntree Gully resident Peter Cole is heading up the self-funded odyssey joined by Muay Thai black belt pal Mark Hawkins and friends Stephen Longham and Matthew Dunn, the coach and assistant coach at Olinda-Ferny Creek Football Club.
The quartet departs on Sunday, 12 March and plans to spend two weeks driving around Fiji in a hired car, dishing out sporting goods and educational aids to as many of the island’s schoolchildren as possible.
Mr Cole, the 22-year-old vice-president of Olinda-Ferny Creek Football Club, has a relationship with Fiji dating back four years.
The purpose of his initial visit was to help establish Fiji’s first Salesian Order.
Since then Mr Cole has made an annual pilgrimage in association with the Salesians, gradually taking more and more sporting goods for distribution around the capital, Suva.
But the sporting sideline has now evolved to become the central theme of the quest and Mr Cole is eager to harness community support and expand the mission’s scope.
“Visiting several Fijian schools in the past few years, I became convinced a huge amount could be done at nominal cost to provide support during these vital school years,” he said.
“It’s heart-breaking to see vibrant youngsters forced to improvise games with sticks and bottles as their schools have almost no playground equipment – no footballs, soccer balls, tennis gear – things we almost take for granted at home in Australia.”
Mr Cole has already scored some sponsorship success, with Essendon Football Club and National Nine News jumping on board, Platypus Sporting Goods in Preston pledging a batch of 200 cricket balls, and Croydon Self Storage offering to package the consignment prior to departure.
Mr Cole is also appealing to the community to rummage around at home for any spare kit that might be used to get a game going.
“So many people have all kinds of unused sports gear hanging around in the garage. That’s the sort of thing we’re looking for – it doesn’t have to be brand new,” he said.
It is hoped that sponsors may give money to sponsor some Fijian children through school.
According to Mr Cole, annual school fees are the equivalent of around AUD$40, roughly equal to Fiji’s average monthly wage.
Though Mr Cole has been highly organised in contacting potential sponsors, he does not intend to arrange a strict itinerary for his team in Fiji.
The foursome will keep costs down by camping and aims to drive around the entire island, turning up unannounced to dish out bootloads of sports gear.
The boys also hope to export a bit of homegrown culture with their Australian booty, with plans to teach AFL basics and set up a couple of games.
Together, Mr Cole’s team hopes their energy and passion will combine with the generous gifts of the community to provide sporting enjoyment for Fijian kids not just now, but into the future.
“I just believe everyone should have a the chance to play sport, to run around and play with their friends at school. It’s an important part of education.
“Even a modest donation could make all the difference to the next generation of one of our close neighbouring communities,” he said.
Anyone wishing to donate sporting and educational equipment, or to pass on transport/shipping contacts, is invited to call Mr Cole on 0439 997 583.