Chamber supports Deadly 9 aside Footy competition run by the Central Australian Football Club (Redtails/Pinktail)

Dave Hair, the Chamber's Business Liason Officer, took the time last week to chat with Ian McAdam about the Deadly 9 aside Footy competition run by the Central Australian Football Club (Redtails/Pinktail).

Ian is a long-time local who, along with another Alice footy legend Darren Talbert, is looking to make a difference by running a 6-week program from March the 1st at ANZAC Oval from 5-30 -7. They have been training for three weeks and are ready to kick off. The program is being backed and supported by the Alice Springs Town Council.

I asked Ian what the inspiration behind this program was.

“ We are providing an afterhours activity, basically aimed at the kids (boys and girls) aged between 12-16 currently in Youth Services. Yoret, Aboriginal Liaison Officers,?The Gap Youth Centre, Yipirinya School and hopefully Tangentyere Council, who we are currently in negotiation with, will collect the kids from their drop-in centres and surrounding communities and return them safely home”

“We will engage in a positive activity in a space where we can invite community organisations, business owners and community leaders to join us to participate using loose talk to spark conversations these kids wouldn’t normally have.”

"Through the loose conversation, it would be a good opportunity for these kids to meet the business owners and retail staff within the community, as where else do they have the chance to do this??We are also looking to provide pathways for these kids to see a future in organised sport from engagement, linking them into footy and offering opportunities to be surrounded in a positive environment where everything is about support, good sportsmanship, respect, nutrition and good decision making by creating relationships and bridging gaps.”

This is an opportunity to come on down and mingle, show your face and be involved in creating attitude change.

Another strategy I have to spark loose talk is a sit-down feed at the end of the night where everyone involved will mix. The meals will be provided by the Alice Springs Town Council and rewards for good sportsmanship and good behaviours will be provided, including a pack of footy gear that they can wear in future games. For each game, we will supply boots, a hat, guernsey’s shorts and socks,?so if they feel like joining a footy club they will have the gear to train in.”

“It’s about knowing where these kids are. If they are in our safe environment and forming good relationships, we can then start talking about how negative behaviour impacts our community. This is only a little part of what needs to be done. Everyone is doing all they can, but if there is ever a time where the analogy of a community raising a child, this would be it.

We are looking to provide an opportunity, a safe place where the kids can talk to others about their lives,?and business owners can engage, which sparks the thought of opportunity the kids?would previously not have thought possible”

Ian is very excited about his program but insists the success will depend on the business community’s support and willingness to engage in loose talk.

The Chamber is very supportive of this initiative, and I look forward to joining them on Wednesday to kick off this exciting opportunity.

Dave Hair

Business Liason Officer

Chamber of Commerce NT - Central Australia