AFL Victoria’s Multicultural Gala Day takes centre stage at Deakin Reserve

Aug 16, 2023

Kicking goals: St Georges Road Primary School Year 3 student Ruby Davidson lines up a kick during AFL Victoria’s Shepparton Multicultural Gala Day yesterday at Deakin Reserve. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

What better way to connect our vibrant Goulburn Valley communities than through Australian rules football?

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That was the message from AFL Victoria as it held the Shepparton Multicultural Gala Day at Deakin Reserve on Wednesday.

Aimed at primary school students with multicultural backgrounds, more than 300 children participated in a whole range of fun activities on the same ground as some of the most memorable football moments in the GV.

Students from St Georges Road, Mooroopna Park, Bourchier St and Gowrie St tried their skills on a range of activities from a handball target contest, goal-kicking and more as they learned the fundamentals of Aussie rules football.

The action began at 10am and students from each school spent an hour partaking in the football and netball events.

Students and teachers from SEDA College helped run the festivities.

Shepparton Ethnic Council, Shepparton Foodshare, Greater Shepparton City Council, Goulburn Valley Water and Netball Victoria helped sponsor the event.

AFLGM participation co-ordinator Bailey Bell said it was important to give children the chance to kick a footy for the first time.

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Big cheer: St Georges Rd Primary School’s grade three and four students. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

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Big kick: Grade four student Zainab Abkar. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

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Weave your way through: Grade four student Estella Kirunga. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

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Down low: Grade four student Birsen Faez. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

“This is a big stepping stone for our region,” Bell said.

“It will be great to see 350 multicultural students flow throughout the day ... it’s all about bringing our local communities together through our great game of footy.

“This is a huge step in the right direction as we continue to promote the game of football in our communities filled with many cultural backgrounds.

“Hopefully we can make it bigger and better each year.”

Shepparton Foodshare board chair Jeremy Rensford said it was important to support the Multicultural Gala.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for these young people to come together to learn new skills and make new friends in an inclusive environment,” he said.

“Events such as this foster community connection, health and well-being. A number of agencies involved in this event are registered to collect our food for the people they support, so we are pleased to be a partner of this event by providing nutritious food to fill the participants’ bellies and fuel their energy.”