FIRST NATIONS BOYS RALLY THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY IN A FOOTY BOOTS DRIVE
SCOTCH PUTS ITS BEST FOOT FORWARD FOR INDIGENOUS KIDS
In the first week of September , Year 11 First Nations boys at Scotch rallied the school community through a Footy Boots Drive , supporting the Redtails Pinktails Right Tracks Program in Central Australia . The drive was an overwhelming success , with donations including sporting boots and runners – testament to the generosity and support of our school community .
The Redtails Pinktails Right Tracks Program is a communitydriven initiative designed to empower Indigenous youth through the combined forces of sport , education and cultural connection . The program operates primarily in Central Australia , offering young people a safe and supportive environment where they can engage in positive activities that build their confidence , resilience and life skills .
By fostering a sense of community and belonging , the Redtails Pinktails Right Tracks Program is helping to shape the next generation of leaders and role models within Indigenous communities .
At the conclusion of the Footy Boots Drive at a Memorial Hall Assembly in the Senior School , we were lucky to have ambassadors of the program – AFL legends Gilbert McAdam and Ken Hunter , as well as Alice Springs senior physician Peter Wirth (’ 79 ) – on hand to accept the donations .
Gilbert McAdam delivered a moving speech from the heart in the Memorial Hall , where he spoke of his lived experience as a young boy from the Alice , the current disadvantages faced by
many Indigenous people in Central Australia , and that something as small as a pair of footy boots would not just make a little boy ’ s day – it would make him burst into tears . It would give him a start in life and empower him .
First Nations kids in Central Australia deserve better – they can succeed given half a chance – and supporting initiatives like this can change mindsets and create pathways . Those were the takeaways from Gilbert ’ s address .
This endeavour by our First Nations boys is a powerful example of how we at Scotch have united for a greater purpose . It is also a great example of how our boys are committed to shaping a better future . Through the collective generosity of students , staff and families , we have come together to support Redtails Pinktails , a cause that aligns with this school ’ s valuing of service to others , and unity .
Just as the Cardinal Thread ties us all together , this initiative demonstrates how we can unite our strengths to have a meaningful impact beyond the Monash Gates – united in the journey to shaping a better future .
DION WHITFIELD (’ 22 ) – FIRST NATIONS SUPPORT PROGRAM , ACADEMIC TUTOR www . scotch . vic . edu . au Great Scot 35