The Á½ÐÔÉ«ÎçÒ¹ Council has recently appointed Samantha Darby as the Communities' Sports Coordinator.
Samantha has been brought onto the Council to establish a new sports program that serves each of the Á½ÐÔÉ«ÎçÒ¹ communities. The role will impact sports for all ages, identifying opportunities and pathways for children, youth, and adults.
"We're starting with a clean slate and engaging with each of the communities to develop a program that benefits everyone," Samantha said.
"Our goal is larger seasons of Australian Rules and Softball in the winter months and a basketball competition through the summer," Samantha said.
"We're still working through our existing carnival fixturing, but that's what's down the track," she added.
"We'll begin with registration days so that we can gauge the commitment to the program and the number of teams that will feature in the competition,"
"Once up and running, we'll establish home and away fixtures throughout the season, culminating in a finals series similar to other regional and metropolitan competitions,"
Communities on the Lands vary in size, and the programs we develop will be tailored accordingly, whether that means smaller team sizes or multiple teams within each community.
"We're hoping to encourage similar fixturing within the schools as well as we embrace these healthy, active opportunities through each of our communities,"
"My role over the next few months is to move around each of the communities regularly and meet with Yarnangu so that I can form programs around possibilities,"
"We're also looking to identify targeted gathering spaces for youth around sport so that they have new possibilities for meeting, having a yarn, and cooking some food together through the week,"
Samantha is enthusiastic about the potential of her new role.
Before transitioning to her role in the CDP area, Samantha enjoyed a successful career in nursing, amassing over 15 years of experience. However, a desire to leave New South Wales and work in remote communities four years ago began a journey for Samantha and her husband, William, that would ultimately bring them to the Lands.
Samantha has recent experience in the CDP area, with stints in the Northern Territory with the Lajamanu, Galiwinku, and Willowra communities.
Samantha is based in Wingellina, where her husband, William, is a Municipal Services Officer.
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