Sport
11 December, 2024
Bush kids have a ball in Mount Isa
Sports For Bush Kids notched up a milestone in 2024.
Sports For Bush Kids has celebrated 25 years of operations with more than 70 families gathering in Mount Isa for several days of sporting and cultural activities promoting teamwork, collaboration and face-to-face mateship.
SFBK was born at the turn of the century when two Isolated Children and Parents Association mums with kids studying via the Mount Isa School of the Air – Julie Spreadborough from Koolamara Station near Mount Isa and Kelsey Neilson from Two Rivers Station near Boulia – felt that isolated children were missing out on important sporting skills, especially swimming.
The annual gathering, which coincides with the final week of the school calendar, has grown significantly over time but remains true to its original focus on promoting the kinds of interactions that children at regular schools take for granted.
Last week’s event saw more than 150 School of the Air students spread from Richmond to Karumba, and Windorah and the Northern Territory, gather in Mount Isa for team sports, group movie nights, swimming classes and audiences watching their stage performances.
The gathering included former students among its army of mum and dad volunteers who fill the Mount Isa Rugby Union field to coach the schoolchildren in a range of sports including soccer, cricket and league tag.
Later in the week, the children piled into Splashez Aquatic Centre and the tennis and netball courts for special clinics.
There were also Grade 6 and Grade 10 graduations, plus a P&C community barbecue.
Queensland ICPA treasurer Margaret Brock told North West Weekly she had watched SFBK grow over the 15 years her family had been associated with the event.
“It all grew out of the need to get kids to learn to swim – there were kids that didn’t even know what to do when they got into the pool and so a lot of effort went into developing a swimming group and from there a lot of other sports were added over time,” she said.
“Julie Spreadborough realised early on the need for classes and she, of course, has her own swimming school now.
“Previously the kids only had access to dams and waterways – not a lot of safe swimming areas to learn – but over the years we have been running this week-long event, the skill level of the kids has gotten very high, to the point where School of the Air now holds a swimming carnival.
“Holding a swimming carnival 15 years ago would have been an impossibility.”
Ms Brock said speech and drama had also been a recent addition to the SFBK event, culminating in a concert for almost 30 kids.
“(It has) helped improve the children’s confidence with public speaking and gives them an opportunity to showcase their skills and dramatic flair to a group of parents and peers,” she said.
Ms Brock said Mount Isa accommodation was heavily booked during the week and many finished their Christmas shopping while everyone kept an eye on weather reports to ensure there would be no unexpected rainfall that could cut them off from the home stations.
“I think the event has become something the children look forward to all year – it is one of only two times during the year that the entire School of the Air is gathered in one place – parents and the families travel long distances to get here,” she said.
“At home, the kids only have their siblings to play with – this gives them a chance to all come together in one place and do a range of activities with their school friends.”