Balga Senior High School head of physical education Neil Arnold won the Outstanding Indigenous AFL Program.
Camera IconBalga Senior High School head of physical education Neil Arnold won the Outstanding Indigenous AFL Program. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Footy programs at Ashfield PS and Balga SHS recognised at AFL School Ambassador Awards

Kristie LimEastern Reporter

TWO eastern suburb schools have been awarded for their outstanding football programs that improved school involvement this year.

Ashfield Primary School principal Christiaan Moir and Balga Senior High School teacher-in-charge of physical education Neil Arnold won the Most Outstanding Primary AFL School Ambassador and Outstanding Indigenous AFL Program at the 2017 AFL School Ambassador Awards night on August 10.

The duo were among 30 finalists who were acknowledged at the event held at Subiaco Oval, featuring guests from the West Coast Eagles and Fremantle Football Club, Bicton MLA Lisa O’Malley and other West Australian Football Commission (WAFC) representatives.

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Mr Moir said footy programs including Auskick and the Eagles Cup catered for all 120 students.

“We put a lot of work into it over the last three or four years, not just myself, but the previous principal and also the deputy principal,” he said.

“It is great for the school to be recognised as well for what we have been doing here.

“We try to get them engaged in school through sport… we have really increased our attendance and improved our behaviour at Ashfield because of these programs.

“I’d really like to see the kids get into local footy clubs like Bassendean; it would be good to get a lot more kids there.”

Mr Arnold said the award recognised the school’s growing footy program which had 60 students and was run by staff and shared partnerships with Warwick-Greenwood Junior Football Club and Subiaco Football Club.

“We’d always love to get more kids involved and the big thing is about not only getting involved in the footy program but getting involved in school in general,” he said.

“We are able with their assistance to get kids playing community footy as well, which is a great outcome.

“These sort of awards is not just me, it is the whole school and department.”

All registered teachers are eligible to become AFL School Ambassadors.

The WAFC provides training, equipment and support free of charge.

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