A chance to kick more goals at OLHC

FOOTBALL just got more fun at Our Lady Help of Christians school in Wendouree thanks to an effort by different groups across the community to replace the oval’s goal posts.

The new posts started out as a fundraising effort, until a visit by the school’s senior students to Parliament House meant one pupil could raise the issue directly with Member for Wendouree, Juliana Addison.

Ms Addison was then able to link the school up with Liam Brady from AFL Victoria, who had some goal posts spare, while the pads were donated parent and studio manager at Small Dog Design, Daren Collinson.

“The problem with getting good posts in they really, really cost,” said acting principal Paddy Ryan.

“Originally the goal posts were facing in a different direction, were old and wooden, and really quite dangerous so we took them out. We then experimented with portable posts which were inappropriate, made from PVC and broke.

“These goal posts are much more permanent, they’re stable and a really great addition.”

Mr Ryan said the effort meant that money originally raised for the goal posts could go back into other areas of need at the school and the project was finished way ahead of time.

“It’s fantastic, as otherwise we would have had to get the money from elsewhere,” he said. “Now those funds will go directly to other programs, life education programs, ITC programs, things like that.”

With no government money going into the new goal posts, Ms Addison said her ability to connect community partners who had extra resources with places like OLHC was a rewarding part of her job.

“This is about coming and talking to kids about government and then being able to be a great representative for my community,” she said.

“When people come to me I always like to help them, I can’t always, but with this was one I could make a few calls and with the hard work of my office we were able to get these goal posts, and with the help of Small Dog have them installed.”

As for the student behind taking the issue directly to his Member of Parliament, grade 5 pupil Keegan, he was just happy for the chance to kick at some high-quality goal posts.

“It feels really good that we can play footy,” he said. “The only problem is we’re not allowed to tackle! But the good thing is we can kick goals.”