AFL Tasmania has celebrated the continuation of a partnership with Aurora Energy, for the conduct of the `Aurora Footy in Schools' program, with the announcement of the appointment of a new `Footy in Schools' Ambassador for the program - ex AFL and Tasmanian Devils star player - Trent Bartlett.
Trent Bartlett, or "Big Bart" as he will be known to schoolchildren, has accepted the appointment for 2008 and 2009 as the program builds up towards the achievement of our 100,000th participant.
The 2008 season will see the Aurora Footy In Schools program entering its 11th season and this year's launch also highlighted a major project to be undertaken by AFL Tasmania and Aurora Energy in support of the national celebration of "Australian Football 150 Years".
The major celebration event aims to have every Tasmanian school participate in the national `Kick Around the World' to be conducted on Thursday 7 August at 12.30pm. Plans are underway for Aurora Energy, AFL Tasmania and the Hawthorn FC to provide support to all Tasmanian schools and to conduct a feature `Kick' at Aurora Stadium on that day.
The Aurora Footy in Schools program promotes Australian Football amongst school-aged children throughout Tasmania. In 2008 it is planned that over 8000 children in grades 3/ 4 and 5/ 6 will participate in clinics and lessons with the support of Aurora Energy. This will bring the total number of Aurora Footy in Schools participants to over 95,000 since 1998.
The new Aurora Footy in Schools Ambassador, Trent Bartlett, was looking forward to his appointment and said:
"I genuinely feel honoured to be able to lead this great Tasmanian football program over the next 2 seasons when we will have the opportunity to celebrate 150 years of Australian Football in 2008 and then also 100,000 participants in 2009."
"If our collective efforts in Aurora Footy in Schools can help motivate even one child to take up football, which has been such a big part of my life and which I believe can provide some great opportunities for young people to achive their goals, then I think it will be well worth the effort," he said.
AFL Tasmania's Manager - Aurora Stadium, Daniel Smedley, said he was delighted that Aurora Energy had decided to continue its support of football development in Tasmania and that AFL Tasmania would be able to continue to supporting this entry level of participation.
"The Aurora Footy in Schools program is arguably the most respected sport development program conducted in schools in Tasmania," he said.
"The Aurora Footy in Schools program has resulted in a large increase in participation in Australian Football and this is shown by increased numbers of community and school based teams amongst graduates of the program.
"AFL Tasmania is justifiably proud of the outcomes achieved by this partnership with Aurora Energy," he said.
Mr Smedley said major sporting sponsorship packages remained hard to secure in today's economic climate.
"AFL Tasmania is therefore very keen to ensure the profile of the Aurora Footy In Schools program is of the highest level in the Tasmanian community."
"As well, the support of `Big Bart' as our Ambassador will help demonstrate the link between the participation and talent pathways and the opportunity that Australian football presents in sport and also in the broader sense of employment, good health and fitness and general life skills."
"Finally, our celebration of `Australian Football 150 Years' at Aurora Stadium, and in schools around Tasmania, in early August will highlight not only the message that football is such an important part of our past, present and future, but also the importance of Aurora's contribution in supporting football in schools," he said.
Aurora Energy Public Relations Manager, Christine Ward, said the further support for the Footy In Schools continued the company's involvement in the sponsorship of junior sport in Tasmania, in particular the development of junior football.
"Aurora Energy is pleased to renew our commitment to the Footy In Schools program which has proven to be a comprehensive introduction to sport for many young Tasmanians, she said.
"The benefits of introducing young Tasmanians, be they boys or girls, to the sport of football is that they learn the benefits of active participation, team work and developing skills.
"We are very pleased to be once again developing young Tasmanians through Footy In Schools.
For further information contact:
Daniel Smedley Christine Ward
AFL Manager - Aurora Stadium Public Relations Manager
AFL Tasmania Aurora Energy
Tel: 0418114414 Tel: 6237 3341
ENDS
Last Modified on 22/10/2008 08:27