The Your Health Your Future Ambassador Program kicked off with a high-octane bang last week as the Illawarra Hawks challenged the Australian Indigenous All Stars to their first event match against an NBL team. Both teams showed off their sportsmanship by engaging in various health promotion activities with some local primary school students.
All Stars visit Warilla North Public School
On Friday in collaboration with Illawarra AMS, the All Stars visited Warilla North Public School, a local school with a passion for basketball, and challenged the kids to a classic 5-on-5 set up. The points flew thick and fast from both sides, but some tricky manoeuvres and skilful defence saw the kids from Warilla North Public beating the All Stars by just one point. Congrats to Warilla North, and of course to the All Stars for bringing the challenge and the passion for the game.
All Stars face off against the kids at Warilla North
After the game, the players and coaching staff spoke to the students about the importance of playing sport and being active, and why water is the healthiest drink to choose if they want to grow up and be an All Star! The players and the AH&MRC team distributed Your Health Your Future health promotion items including hats, skipping ropes, bouncy balls and other equipment that can empower kids to get active.
It was a fabulous day all round which illustrated the power of health partnerships where the Warilla North teaching staff, the All Stars, IAMS and the AH&MRC all came together to demonstrate and promote the importance of sport and fitness for children and young people.
All Stars and Illawarra Medical Service hand out Your Health Your Future Resources
On Saturday, the Hawks and the All-Stars held an open training session in Wollongong, where Warilla North students (proudly wearing their new Your Health Your Future hats) got to watch the pros warm-up and shoot hoops in anticipation of the Saturday night pre-season Indigenous challenge. This game gave the Hawks a chance to debut their 2019 squad including new recruits LaMelo Ball and Aaron Brooks, and was also the first time the All Stars had the chance to compete against an NBL team. While the Hawks won the game, the All Stars’ exciting performance against the established Hawks means it surely won’t be the last.
