WORLD Champion cyclists Anna Meares and Kaarle McCulloch have joined the Port Adelaide Football Club’s Community Youth Program, helping us take healthy messages to school students across South Australia.
The club is thrilled to have Anna and Kaarle on the team, working with Power players and other athletes to serve as role models for young people.
With the support of Major Partner BHP Billiton, the Community Youth Program reaches 30,000 school children every year. Its participants work in teams visiting schools in regional communities including Ceduna, Port Lincoln, Whyalla, Port Augusta, Port Pirie, and Roxby Downs.
The program also has the backing of the South Australian Government, promoting messages including the Be Active, Gofor2and5 nutrition campaign and Smarter Than Smoking. It also addresses topics including harmony, respect and team work.
Anna and Kaarle have just defended their team sprint title at the World Championships and are now working together to take their combination to the London Olympics.
CYP Manager Russell Ebert is thrilled to have recruited such world-class athletes, to help the students make the right choices in relation to health and lifestyle, and fulfilling their potential in life.
“Anna and Kaarle epitomize all the messages that we are talking to the students and teachers about, and all that we admire in every athlete in our program,” Russell said.
The program is one of the few in elite sport where both female and male athletes work together to tell their stories and encourage children to make better decisions. Anna and Kaarle join Thunderbirds netballer Mel Rowland and Ruth Wallace from the Australian Matildas soccer team.
“The balance of male and female athletes in our program is really important when it comes to getting through to both the boys and girls who we are talking to,” Russell added.
Anna takes delight in seeing the faces of students as they see her collection of medals, including the silver she won at the Beijing Olympics, following her comeback from a racing crash and neck injury that could have cost her life.
She’s especially proud that the silver in her medal was mined in Australia by BHP Billiton, for who Anna is an ambassador.
Kaarle is studying to become a teacher and is at home in the classroom.
”It’s a great opportunity for high-profile people to get out there and deliver positive health and lifestyle messages to the kids. They probably listen to us more than they might other people,” Kaarle said.
“I’ve had a lot of fun working with (Port Adelaide players) Mitch Banner and Daniel Stewart. The kids are really interested in what we’re saying. They put their hands up and are really keen to give us good answers. They’re really enthusiastic about what we’re telling them.”
If you want more information on your school being visited as part of the PAFC Community Youth rogram contact atuckfield@pafc.com.au .
