Kidz take a Chance
KICKS4Kidz has teamed with Hawthorn premiership player Chance Bateman and Ngarda to help promote healthy lifestyles and footy in remote communities in Western Australia's north-west.
Bateman, who has returned to his home state to finish off his football career with Perth in the WAFL, will spread the Kicks4 Kidz message with with former Subiaco premiership player Rod Willet throughout the Pilbara and Kimberley.
The 31-year-old will fill a dual off-field role as an ambassador for Kicks4Kidz and the program's major sponsor Ngarda, one of the largest contracting companies for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia.
Ngarda's core purpose is to help provide and promote growth opportunities for indigenous Australians and ensure a better quality of life in their communities, Bateman said. 'probably the biggest factor in sponsoring a program like Kicks4Kidz.
"I have a role in our community relations department based around engaging local communities in our work sites, building long lasting working relationships in those communities and trying to lift our profile to the broader community. K4K is a part of delivering those outcomes."
Bateman is proud of his Noongar heritage and his West Australian roots “ and says his new role will enable him to see the Pilbara and Kimberley. "im a WA boy from York and I have have never really been up north so I am really looking forward to that," he said.
Ngarda chief executive officer Tony Sheppard says Bateman represents a "powerful role model for indigenous children" and will help Ngarda build even stronger relationships in regional communities.
Willet saw Bateman as a "great draft pick" after 13 years and 177 AFL games in Melbourne.
Chance has accomplished some great milestones, including being the first indigenous player to captain Hawthorn and the first indigenous player to reach 150 games for the Hawks," Willet said.
"He is now in a new phase of his life where he must build a future for himself after football. "This presents an ideal opportunity for him to pass on all his knowledge and experiences with the work he will do with Kicks4Kidz and Ngarda. He is a good communicator and will be a fantastic asset to the Kicks- 4Kidz team as a mentor and a role model for all indigenous children."
The Sunday Times is a foundation sponsor of the Kicks4Kidz program. Other sponsors are Ngarda, 6PR, Grace Removals, Garnduwa, WAFC, WA Netball, the Eagles and Dockers Team Stores, the nine WAFL clubs, Octane Web Soultions and Visy Specialists.