WAIS 2008 Beijing Olympians Todd Skipworth and Nat Bale last week travelled to Kalgoorlie to present the Go for 2 and 5 WAIS Community Development Program to primary schools in and around the goldfields area.
The rowers visited seven schools in a whirlwind four-day trip through the region and focused their message on the importance of good nutrition and regular exercise for a healthy life.
Todd Skipworth was a member of the men’s lightweight four boat in Beijing whilst Nat Bale rowed as a member of the women’s eight for Australia, and both are acutely aware of the need for fresh fruit and vegetables as part of a healthy daily routine along with regular physical activity.
On Tuesday December 9 the athletes landed in Kalgoorlie and travelled straight to Kalgoorlie Primary School were they were greeted to a hero welcome, many of the children asked questions ranging from the Olympic experience to training schedules and which fruits and vegetables the pair prefer.
On Wednesday morning Todd and Nat made the trip to Kambalda Primary School where they experienced some of the fabled red dirt goldfields terrain. The grassless ovals and warm summer air did nothing to prevent the enthusiasm of the kids as they launched into the fruit and veg tag game and left our athletes breathless in the fruit salad relay.
Following on from another successful visit to O’Connor Primary School on Wednesday afternoon, Todd and Nat headed out on the road again on Thursday morning to meet the Coolgardie Primary School children.
The 50km drive to Coolgardie was tempered by a monsoon like electrical storm which in a flash turned the claret landscape into a clayesque Australian outback version of Roland Garos.
The rain continued, forcing the athletes visit to Coolgardie undercover. Despite the swollen skies, the 40 or so staff and teachers at the tiny school huddled into the assembly area where Todd and Nat wowed them with stories of competition from China and other exotic locations, the kids couldn’t comprehend how the Olympic athlete village food hall was bigger than their entire school.
Boulder Primary School and Hannans Primary School both hosted our athletes with Todd and Nat signing countless autographs after lots of questions and fun and games, and the final stop of the WAIS Community Development Program was at East Kalgoorlie Primary School which is nestled just shy of the famed Kalgoorlie Super Pit.
Todd and Nat joined in a recess game of basketball with the students at East Kalgoorlie Primary School before beginning the presentation. From Pre-Primary to Year 7 the students were delighted to meet and interact with the Olympians and both athletes were impressed with the athletic skills of the girls and boys.
“The whole trip was a really fantastic experience for me,” said Bale. “It was really impressive to see the kids getting involved and it’s nice to think that as ambassadors for the go for 2 and 5 message that we can make a difference.”
For Todd, he believes in future campaigns we could find an Australian Olympian from the goldfields.
“The natural talent that some of these kids have is amazing. They were so enthusiastic and it made promoting the health message so much easier, we might not get Olympic rowers, but I can see a few Usain Bolts,” Skipworth said.
