AFL roadtrain hits town for sport’s 150th anniversary
From the Armidale Express, 02/04/2008
The AFL roadtrain will be in Armidale tomorrow as part of the 150th anniversary celebrations of Australian football.
A purpose-built semi-trailer has been travelling through NSW and stopping at selected towns, having started its journey in Albury, NSW in February.
Some 90 locations will be visited around Australia before the roadtrain finally ends its journey in Melbourne on 4 October.
Sponsored by National Australia Bank, the roadtrain features a range of interactive displays and inflatable activities.
About 250 local children from St Marys, Newling, Armidale City Public and TAS have been booked places to join in with the activities.
The roadtrain will be parked at TAS for the morning, after travelling down from Moree.
According to Craig Collins, the local Auskick co-ordinator, Armidale deserves its place as a roadtrain destination.
“The Armidale community has really embraced Australian football over the past few years, both through the rapid growth of the Auskick junior program and the continuing success of the New England Nomads,” he said.
With the 2008 Auskick season due to kick-off for us on Saturday, May 3, it is increasingly clear that whole families are getting involved – including mums and dads taking on helper roles, just as much as brothers and sisters joining together as players.
The next Australia-wide special event will be the AFL Community Weekend on May 10 and 11.
The Nomads will have their 10th anniversary ball at the Wicklow Hotel on Saturday, May 10 to celebrate the origins and successes of Armidale’s senior AFL club.
Auskick is a program designed to introduce five to 14-year-old boys and girls to the fun and skills of Australian rules football. Registration remains open and costs $60 per child.
This includes an Auskick benefits pack (containing a backpack, Sherrin football, hat, water bottle, DVD, diary, membership card, poster and insurance). New players will also receive a junior Nomads footy jumper at no extra cost.
Weekly clinics are held on Saturdays from 12 to 1.15pm at Bellevue Oval during terms two and three.
For further details contact Craig or Marion Collins on 6772 4872 or at cwcmjs@aapt.net.au
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