A group of 70 teachers gathered at the Gabba on Saturday to celebrate the announcement of Queensland’s Coles School Ambassadors of the Year for 2012.
Across Queensland there are currently 540 teachers who are official AFL Ambassadors and promote AFL at their school and within their community through coaching, administration, classroom lessons, interschool sport and more.
The teachers enjoyed a pre-game function and mingled with their peers before heading to their seats to enjoy a Brisbane Lions’ victory.
AFL Queensland CEO Michael Conlan was on hand to officially welcome the teachers, while Brisbane Lions players Sam Sheldon and Niall McKeever dropped by to chat with the teachers and award the ‘best dressed’ prize to the best dressed Lions fan.
Toowoomba’s Natalie Fraser took out the award, wearing a much loved Brisbane Bears jumper which had a great history of games it had been worn to. Natalie won a Brisbane Lions guernsey signed by Schools Ambassador from the Lions, Dan Merrett.
Schools Coordinator Sarah Hopkins then announced the state winners, with Mackay’s David Maddock-Jones taking out the Primary category, and joint winners of Kath Newman from Townsville’s William Ross State High School, and Ben Lloyd from Victoria Point State High School.
The annual prize for our Ambassadors of the Year is much sought after: a trip for two to the first week of the Toyota 2012 AFL Finals in Melbourne with flights, accommodation and tickets to a finals function and match included.
David Maddock-Jones, Alligator Creek State School:
o Facilitated Auskick program attracting 48 participants
o Introduced AFL Sport Education at Alligator Creek SS
o Coached U12 Mackay District team and U12 Capricornia team in 2012, with six new players transitioning from other sports to regular club AFL players
o Communicates & meets regularly with AFLQ Mackay staff offering new ideas for AFl across the region
o Taken on President of Alligator Creek Bombers
o Organised and coached Gold Coast SUNS Cup team who won their regional and pool finals, making it though to the state final at Metricon Stadium
o He was the brains behind an AFL 9s school competition in the region, of which an Alligator Creek team is also playing in the Mackay social AFL 9s competition
o Dave was also one of the planners behind a Mackay Country Carnival with school students, Auskick & club players from Mackay & Central Highlands
o AFLQ Mack Dion Obst describes Dave as humble, enthusiastic and dedicated, and an invaluable asset to the Mack region.
Kath Newman, William Ross SHS:
o Coordinates the Rhinos AFL School of Excellence Program at William Ross SHS
o Did the unthinkable and had the rugby league posts taken down and AFL posts put up at school
o William Ross High School participates in the Year 8/9 GCS Cup, winning the Townsville leg of the competition in 2012
o Participates in Term 4 Inter-school AFL Competition in both the Under 15 and Open boys’ age groups. Also participates in the Open Girls AFLQ run competition.
o Trainer for the Under 16 Townsville Eagles
o Trainer for the Under 16 Country Kookaburra’s Team
o Assistant Coach for the Under 15 Northern Schoolboys AFL team
o Strength and conditioning coach for the Gold Coast Suns Academy
o Presented at the 2012 Townsville Level 1 Coach’s course
Ben Lloyd, Victoria Point SHS:
o Leads the school of excellence program at Victoria Point SHS whilst still being a Full Time teacher.
o Secretary for Queensland Secondary School Sport Committee
o Met East District Convenor and trainer for the 15s.
o Allows AFL Queensland to use the high school facilities and students for the Brisbane Lions Cup Primary which is one of the biggest days for footy in the Brisbane South Region.
o Ben has offered all forms of AFL to his students from Coaching programs, umpiring units, and general skill development clinics.
o Getting his students involved as volunteers for the Brisbane Lions on match Day at the Gabba, with on field entertainment and pre game events.
o Victoria Point SHS is not only involved in boys footy, with the leadership of Ben they have been able to gain interest from over 40 female footy players to enter into all the AFLQ Competitions this year and have success.
o Ben also dedicates any extra time he has with the South Eastern Bushrangers Development Program, acting as Assistant Coach South Eastern Bushrangers U16 Team and coaching in their summer program.
The Coles AFL School Ambassador program would not be possible without the support of Coles, who enable us to offer Ambassadors access to subsidies for resources, classroom and curriculum resources, and more.
AFL School Ambassadors’ assistance each year is invaluable to growing our game and ensuring more students get access to playing AFL. Without their help we would not be able to run the programs we do and we thank all Ambassadors very much for their ongoing support.
If you are interested in becoming a Coles AFL Schools Ambassador, or would like more information, click here
