HISTORIC MOMENT FOR GROWING COMPETITION
SOME of the best and most important conversations Annan Whittington has heard have been in the dressing rooms after taking to the field – win, lose or draw.
It is an environment that he says inspires young men and women to open up, and that concept formed the basis of the Mental Health Week Rugby League 9s carnival.
For the first time in the competition’s history, an event which raises funds for mental welfare charities, a girls tournament was able to take place.
With the likes of new Blackhawks under-19s coach Rob Hall and former Cowboy Ray Thompson watching on, they dazzled.
“The last two the girls have been asking and asking,” said Whittington, the event’s convener.
“By the (Confraternity Shield) putting in a girls division, schools in the region are standing up, taking notice and pushing it in their local school communities.
“Gone are the days of boys playing footy, girls playing netball, and it’s awesome.”
A combined girls side composed of students from St Margaret Mary’s
College, Ryan Catholic College, and Ingham-based colleges St Anthony’s and Gilroy Santa Maria, went through the division undefeated.
In the boys, Columba Catholic College from Charters Towers replicated those feats. However, despite the side’s triumph, it reached the final by the slenderest of margins.
Six teams finished on an equal number of wins and had to be separated by points differential.
Among the schools was Mount Isa’s Good Shepherd College, which braved the eight-hour, one-way road trip to compete.
But with more than $1000 raised for mental health charities, and plenty of conversations encouraged regarding youth mental illness, Whittington said the carnival played a far greater purpose than winning.
“It’s using sport as a great driver to get kids physically active, which changes their mindset,” he said.
“I’ve coached a lot of footy in club and school, and I really believe some of the best conversations – win, lose or draw – happen in the dressing room or in the lead up to games.
“Seeing young blokes checking in on their mates, I see that in my teams, and being in a carnival atmosphere really ticks all the boxes.”