Young champ takes top prize

A TEN-year-old student has pocketed one-thousand dollars after winning a regional handball competition run by Camp Australia.

White Hills Primary School student Malakye Taylor travelled to Geelong on Sunday, 2 May to face-off against 15 other children in his favourite pastime, also known as downball or four-square.

Camp Australia runs the outside school hours care at White Hills, and Malakye said getting on the court is the best part of the program.

“I eat watermelon, have second snack, go on my computer for a little bit and then come out here,” he said.

Malakye’s mother Vicki Bullock said her son, who was recently diagnosed with autism, is never without some type of ball.

“He has an obsession with balls and has done since he was a baby,” she said. “Anything to do with balls he’s pretty good at. We can’t go anywhere without a ball.”

Mrs Bullock said she was proud of Malakye for having fun and making a final, but to win was a shock.

“I just said try your hardest and then he won, and it was amazing,” she said.

Now a local hero, Malakye said he has been “embarrassed” in front of classmates at assemblies but is happy to shout them lunch.

“They’ll be happy when I buy them all fish and chips,” he said.

The keen Aussie Rules player and Geelong supporter said he’s still not sure exactly what he’ll spend all the cash on but has some things in mind.

“Two Geelong hats, a badge with Joel Selwood’s number and face on it, an Xbox, some clothes, and a footy,” he said.

Camp Australia held 12 regional finals across the country, with Victoria holding three in Melbourne and one in Geelong.

Four-hundred children participated and Malakye ranked among the top four per cent nationwide.

In term one, 4600 children participated in Camp Australia’s OSHC handball competitions, and over 9000 competitors played in the autumn holiday program.

Mrs Bullock said she hopes next year Camp Australia holds a regional competition closer to home, so children that can’t make the trip south don’t miss out.