Punting on the kids at Tigerland
Jackie Epstein | March 09, 2008
RICHMOND will lobby the Federal Government for funding after unveiling plans for a ground-breaking indigenous community centre at Punt Road Oval.
The club, along with its indigenous role model Richard Tambling, heads to Canberra on Tuesday in a bid to raise the extra $5 million needed to build the centre.
The project will provide leadership training, health, sport and lifestyle education programs for adolescents.
Tigers chief executive Steven Wright said the aim was to reinstate Punt Road as a hub of community activity.
"It's important to have the best football facilities absolutely, and we are concerned about the ill state of our ground. But a football club should be more than just a football facility," Wright said.
"We felt we should give back to the community like they've given to us over 100 years.
"We want to create basically a leadership and development training program for indigenous youth at Punt Road.
"What that would mean is 13 and 15-year-old kids -- boys and girls -- would come to Punt Road for a three-day camp. And based on advice from the Government and Richard's experience, we know what are big issues for indigenous people."
Richmond has already been given grants totalling $5.5 million by the State and Federal governments, City of Melbourne and the AFL.
With the first soil due to be turned by May, the matter has become a priority. Talks will be held with ministers including Jenny Macklin, Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs; Kate Ellis, Minister for Sport; and Opposition Leader Brendan Nelson.
The club has tailored its proposal to reflect comments made by the government after its historic apology for the stolen generation.
"This program outline is not only about personal development that a lot of indigenous kids need, but it also gives them the leeway to go to school if they know they're getting a good reward at the end with three days at an AFL club," Tambling said.
"When they get to the club they'll be learning about lifestyle and coming out of their shell.
"Most kids I know, including myself, wouldn't have said boo when they first came to Melbourne. The support and help I received around the football club has helped me stand up in front of people and given me some direction.
"Hopefully they can take that back to their communities.
"They don't see a bright light at the end of the tunnel. They do what their parents have done. Whereas if you give them a chance like this, with life skills, it gives them something to look forward to."
The proposal includes a community gym, lecture theatre, catering facilities and oval re-alignment.
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,23341522-19742,00.html