Coutas donation brings pride to APY community

A SCHOOL in remote northwest South Australia is wearing red, blue and white colours with pride after securing a special donation from the Queenscliff Football Netball Club (QFNC).

The QFNC recently partnered with Fregon Anangu School in the middle of the Aṉangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) lands to supply them with football jerseys and boots.

The donation was facilitated with the assistance of former Couta netballer and volunteer Tori Peart who is working as a teacher at Fregon Anangu School.

The local youngsters have been keenly sporting their new jumpers with pride at school and have also donned them to support their local team, the Fregon Bulldogs who wear the same colours as QFNC.

Ms Peart said the donation was already helping the students to play and feel their best.

QFNC president Ali Waight said the club were very proud to be supporting the students with the donation.

“It is wonderful to be able to support these communities in a small way, and our members and players feel a sense of great pride our much-loved Couta jumpers are seen all over Australia, particularly in these remote parts.

“The Queenscliff Football Netball Club brings a great sense of belonging and pride to our town.

“We hope it does the same for these communities, creating a sense of meaning and purpose, of pride and passion, and offering mentorship amongst young players and coaches.”

Ms Waight said the club hoped to partner with a community in the future and offer their young footballers the opportunity to visit.

“It would increase their understanding and awareness of Indigenous cultures, beyond our small corner of the world.

“We would be very keen to talk to anyone in the community that may be interested in helping us achieve this.”

Earlier this year, QFNC also donated jumpers to communities in the Northern Territory (NT) to help them with their Burunga sports carnival.

Next week, one of the club’s Under 16 footballers, Will Morris will deliver a new donation of jumpers and footballs to the NT when he attends a school trip.