Roos join youngsters for uplifting holiday program

NORTH Melbourne Football Club’s Huddle Up holiday program has wrapped up for the summer after another successful surf program held at Anglesea.

The club has been travelling down the highway for five years now, developing a great partnership with Anglesea Surf Life Saving Club (SLSC).

The program saw youngsters from the North Melbourne and Wyndham area join up young members of the surf club to learn water safety and enjoy the beach.

The Huddle Up holiday program is for children aged 5-16 and includes educational sessions surrounding water safety run by Anglesea SLSC volunteers, before the youngsters get an opportunity to catch some waves and implement what they have learned.

North Melbourne AFLW captain Emma Kearney was in attendance and said it was great to see the two groups come together in a program that encourages new experiences and develops social connections.

“They all come from different schools and different backgrounds, so to get them all together is something that’s really important and I think they really benefit from.

“It’s especially important given the year everyone has had in 2020.”

Kearney thanked Anglesea Surf Life Saving Club for its ongoing support.

“The partnership has been fantastic,” she said.

“Anglesea has always been so accommodating each year.”

The Huddle Up program is not limited to football, it has also run programs such as barista courses, river kayaking, mountain bike riding and even made trips to the snow.

The program is run each school holidays and its overall aim is to provide participants with the opportunity to learn new skills and grow as a person.