DARE TO DREAM
Tennis greats Ash Barty and Evonne Goolagong-Cawley‘s special message to kids during visit
INDIGENOUS role model and tennis great Evonne Goolagong-Cawley has urged indigenous youth to seek their dreams and make them happen.
Ms Goolagong-Cawley and women’s number one tennis player Ash Barty were in Cairns yesterday to inspire indigenous youth as part of the Evonne Goolagong Foundation as juvenile crime spirals out of control in the city.
A high level group spearheaded by police is being set up to individually case manage the city’s worst offenders.
Both women urged youngsters to seize the opportunities they were being given while at the Edmonton Tennis Club which was the target of attacks and vandalism earlier this year.
“Indigenous youth are dying so much younger than non-indigenous youth,” Ms Goolagong-Cawley said.
“If they stay in school, they can create jobs and find their dreams if they haven’t already found them. It’s very important for all those kids.”
She spoke to local indigenous tennis players, congratulating them for the hard work.
Through her foundation, Ms Goolagong-Cawley said more indigenous children were playing the game and, as a result, were staying in school.
Ms Barty attributed programs like the foundation for her start in tennis.
“It’s an amazing thing to be a part of,” Ms Barty said.
“(She’s) giving kids more opportunities to become educated, get involved in sport and create their own pathways.”
Edmonton Tennis Club grounds were pelted with glass bottles, bricks and rocks thrown on to the courts, affecting player safety, in March.
President Guy Thomas said the attacks had now settled.
While he wants more youths to join sports programs to get off the streets, Mr Thomas admitted costs were prohibitive for some families.
He called for sporting organisations to do more to encourage all youths to be part of a sport. He was also grateful for the visit by Ms Barty and Ms Cawley. “Ash Barty was phenomenal,” he said.