Students have a ball with program

Martu students throughout western desert communities impressed Softball WA representatives with their quick skills last week.

Independent Martu health, sport and recreation organisation Ngurra Kujungka and Softball WA recently teamed up to offer more sporting opportunities in the Western Desert.

Softball WA development officer Luci Powell, together with Ngurra Kujungka’s indigenous sport development officers Callan Hatchman and Mike McMonigal, travelled to Nullagine, Jigalong and Newman as part of the Ngurra Kujungka Multi-Sports program.

On their first stop, the team met with Nullagine’s newly appointed Martu recreation officers Larissa Booth and Lloyd Patch, and an enthusiastic group of children.

Ms Powell conducted a coaching lesson at the local Gallop Hall on the fundamentals and rules of softball. The group spent the day putting into practice their new knowledge and skills with a few fun games of softball.

The following morning, students aged five-15 from the Nullagine school impressed Ms Powell with their softball skills.

“The students’ positive attitude and enthusiasm made it easy to deliver the program and everyone has fun participating,” she said.

Jigalong was the next stop, where Ms Powell and the Ngurra Kujungka team delivered softball sessions to students at the school.

The final stop was Parnpajinya and Newman, where Year 7 students of Newman High School successfully participated in a morning introductory softball session of side-throwing and fielding skills, followed by a friend-ly game between classmates.

The team were also fortunate to deliver one final session to a special Martu class of Newman Senior High School students. Ms Powell said she was particularly impressed with how quickly the students developed their skills in only a short hour.