DARREN MONCRIEFF
Tuesday 17 July 2012
WITHOUT ambition, dreams are nothing. In football great Michael Long's case, his long-held dream of a centre that can build for young people a solid future on the football field and in education was matched by an ambition to get the job done.
That work has now borne fruit with a planned academy that ties in football with education securing funding that will provide tangible outcomes for Indigenous youth in the Northern Territory.
To give it its complete name, the Michael Long NT Thunder Learning and Leadership Centre project has secured the required $15 million in funding that will see it complete by the end of next year in Darwin.
The Federal Government has provided the bulk of the funding ($11m), with the Northern Territory government ($2.5m), and the AFL ($1.5m) investing in the project.
The centre will provide mostly Indigenous youth from remote areas in the NT with practical measures and encouragement to stay in school.
Its football component will see youngsters undertake various programs that will have the dual role of identifying talent while developing healthy bodies and minds.
FUTURE PLAN: An artist's impression of how the centre will look.
Long (pictured) said the opportunities the centre will provide young people were many.
"The centre has been my dream for many years, and it will be a place where Territory kids can come to learn in a safe, modern environment but where they will also be immersed in footy, as it is our love of our national sport that unites us all," Long said.
"The centre will become a vital focal point for young Indigenous Territorians, equipping them with the skills to become leaders.
"I am profoundly grateful for the support provided by the Federal Government, the NT Government, the Aboriginals Benefit Account committee and the AFL, who share my vision and passion for the project.
"We want to give kids a smorgasbord of things that they have never seen before. We are looking at programs from music, to arts ... and obviously TV, radio."
The Territory's NEAFL side, and defending premiers, NT Thunder will play a leading role in the football component of the centre, with the club's recently introduced Thunder Juniors program central to that end.
"We often talk about the effect that sport can have on developing people, but it also goes the other way -- life itself can play a massive impact on the opportunities you have to succeed in sport," Thunder seniors coach Daniel Archer said.
"It's about balance -- a holistic approach to help develop well-rounded people with quality morals, and people who understand the importance skills such as respect, honesty, dedication and resilience play, not only in sport but in life also.
"There were many good words spoken about Michael and his dream in the form of the leadership and learning centre. Words that were both very fitting and deserved for a man who has walked a path that many dare to dream about."
Aiming even higher is NT Chief Minister Paul Henderson's goal of the Thunder becoming a fully-fledged club in the AFL, with the centre providing a launch pad for that ambitious plan.
The Thunder has had a strong Indigenous component since its inception; its first coach was AFL Indigenous Team of the Century's Michael McLean, and its playing personnel has strong representation.
"The Territory is known for producing the most talented AFL players in the country and we're investing $2.5 million in this facility to educate and train the AFL stars of tomorrow in our own backyard," Henderson said.
"The Territory has a bright future and so do Territory kids -- this centre will not only provide them with th opportunity to develop their sporting skills and career, it will also provide unique education and training programs to help with future employment opportunities."
The centre could host up to 5000 students each year. The centre will include state-of-the-art facilities including:
• Gymnasium;
• Swimming pool and recovery facilities;
• Lecture theatres and classrooms; and
• Accommodation for 70.
AboriginalFootball@westnet.com.au
Last Modified on 17/07/2012 13:46