Footy club posts a win at St Leonards PS

A FOOTY club on the Bellarine has stepped into the breach to help get the goal posts on a nearby primary school’s oval back in action.

One of the posts at St Leonards Primary School fell down earlier this year, greatly disappointing the school’s footy fans, especially Grade 3 student Jayce Bullock and Grade 1 Seb Christie.

The two students were very keen to have the treated pine post repaired or replaced as soon as possible

“Jayce wrote up a list of why we need goal posts and how we could fundraise to get it, and took it to the former principal,” Jayce’s mum Blaire Kenna said.

“And when the school said the goal posts weren’t the priority at that point in time, about a week later the goal post fell down when he kicked a ball into it! So it was very well timed.”

Seb’s mother Briony then approached Pete Evans from the Portarlington Football Netball Club to see if the club would be interested in donating some

money towards the purchase of a new set of posts.

The club went above and beyond expectations, quickly purchasing four AFL standard junior posts and padding, and installing the goal posts about two weeks ago with the help of some volunteers, including Seb’s father Mick.

“Briony said a couple of the kids at the school had been trying to get some funding – I think they sent a letter to the AFL as well – so she asked me,” Portarlington FNC board member Pete Evans said.

“Basically, once we spoke to the footy club, it was a no-brainer, so we decided we’d just pay for the whole lot and get it done.

“For us to give back, it’s a good investment for us to do that, and that’s it’s going to [a] grassroots [project] is probably the most important part.

“People see the top end of footy, but investment in the grassroots side is just as important, if not more.”

St Leonards Primary School acting principal Mel Smith hailed the final result as well as the initiative of Seb and Jayce towards getting the new goal posts in the first place.

“It’s amazing, and it all started with some wonky poles,” she said.

“Jayce came up with a great idea that we needed some new goal posts, and I just love how our kids are really using their student voice.

“Our beautiful mums were very active as well, and sourced people from our community – that’s what our school’s about, it’s all about the community and bringing the community to our school.

“It’s great to bring Portarlington to St Leonards and have a connection, and hopefully we can have more of a connection as well.”