By REBECCA BILLS
WITH the football season over for another year, most clubs opted for the traditional footy trip or ‘Mad Monday’ revelry to end the season.
But for Olinda Ferny Creek’s Football and Netball (OFC) end of season trip, Vanuatu was the destination of choice to promote and develop the country’s sports.
A total of 42 footballers, netballers and support staff from the club spent one week volunteering their time to conduct clinics with more than 1000 children and youth in schools around the main island of Efate.
Club president Helen Wositzky said experiencing another culture, creating friendships and making an effort to help a developing country was perfect to meet one of the club’s key aims – providing young players with personal growth and development opportunities.
This was the first time a football and netball club had undertaken such a trip to Vanuatu.
Describing the experience as eye opening for the OFC players, Ms Wositzky said although there is such a dire lack of facilities and resources, the local children exuded immense joy and happiness.
“Most had such wonderful natural athleticism that they picked up the game instantly,” she said.
“The appreciation of the children, teachers, Vanuatu AFL and netball was amazing.”
Before the first game of Aussie Rules Football could be played between OFC and the national Vanuatu team, the Vanuatu Volcanoes, the entire squad of 42 from OFC carted soil to the playing oval to fill in thousands of holes made by land crabs.
“It had made the oval look more like a mine field than a national playing field,” Ms Wotitzky said.
“With the holes filled in the games that followed was fast and skilful and immensely entertaining.”
In addition to the clinics, half a ton of donated sporting equipment was distributed to schools and the associations to provide much needed resources.
“Some schools visited did not even have a ball for the students to play with,” Ms Wositzky said.
“For Olinda Ferny Creek Football and Netball Club it was an immensely rewarding and life changing experience.
“A firm connection has been made with so many wonderful Ni-Van people that will continue into the future.”
