PRESS RELEASE
Wednesday 10th November 2010
Surfrider Kimberley Branch
‘Boab To Break Tour 2010’
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wyndham children winners at Anaconda Race
The brilliant and brave children from far North of Western Australia were all winners at the Junior Survivor Challenge held in Augusta as part of the annual Anaconda Race.
As part of the Surfrider Foundation Kimberley Branch initiative, 10 mostly aboriginal children from Wyndham, were able to travel to the South West to compete in the race. They may not have finished first but they all felt like winners.
“The children had a really great day at the race, mixing with local children and making friends,” said Clare Alcock, President of the Surfrider Foundation Kimberley Branch. “Although some were apprehensive at first to compete in the race, they all finished with great big smiles on their faces!”
The Anaconda Junior Survivor race brings the children to the end of a ten day practical learning trip about coastal conservation and preservation, a cultural insight into farming, life outside of the Kimberley’s and learning to surf the salty waters of the south west.
The initiative aptly named ‘Boab to Break’ is a ten day epic adventure for the children from a small community in Wyndham in the far-north of Australia with Boab trees to Margaret River’s main surf break.
Clare Alcock added, “For most of the group this was the first time they’ve ever seen ‘blue’ ocean. They have had the opportunity to explore their culture whilst learning about other ways of life, oceans, waves and beaches and understanding the importance and significance of the environment.”
From the freshwater billabongs and red dust of Wyndham where the children started their trip, Margaret River was a stark contrast.
The students visited the Wardan Aboriginal Centre and taken on a 1km bush story trail that included the history of the land and Wardandi People, participated in a tool making and spear throwing workshop and finished the tour with dreaming through song, dance and music.
A cape walk from the river mouth in Margaret River with the expert guides Gene Hardy and Drew McKenzie from Cape to Cape Explorer Tours, where they were fortunate enough to see whales, raised the Boab to Break team’s awareness and concern about environmental and bio-diversity issues.
The Surfrider Kimberley crew also visited a dairy farm and participated in a beach clean up on Gnarabup Beach with Blair Darvill from Surfrider Margaret River.
Max Alcock, Vice President of Surfrider Kimberley Branch and School Teacher said, “The children learnt so much about the environment from the cape walk and the clean up.” He added, “They now pick up rubbish when they see it and dispose of it appropriately.”
One of the many highlights of the trip for the children was the three-day surfing lessons with Margaret River Surf School. Sade Hunter said, “This is my favourite part of the trip” and named as the best surfer on the tour. With the help from Max Alcock (also a Surf Coach) she caught a wave out the back. Max Alcock said, “I wasn’t sure at first but she wanted to have a go so I pushed her in and she took off on a 3 foot green wave!” This was only her second day of Surfing Lessons.
They took a tour of Margaret River, which included a demonstration of glass blowing at Melting Pot Glass Studio, surfboard shaping at Nathan Rose and Mat Manner’s workshops, a visit to Margaret River Bookshop and a tasting at Simmo’s ice cream shop.
During the busy schedule, the Wyndham children had lessons at Margaret River Primary school where they positively interacted with the other children and made great friendships. Margaret River Primary School also organised the burning of the vine cuttings at Leeuwin Estate, which the Boab to Break team thoroughly enjoyed.
Concluding the adventure to the south west, Clare Alcock, organiser and fundraiser said, “After the children had said their final goodbyes at burning of the vine cuttings event, there were tears as we drove off in the eyes of Margaret River Primary School students and crying all the way home from most of the Boab to Break team. It was a moving yet beautiful sight to witness. It has been an honour to see children from different cultural backgrounds bonding together. I really hope that through future donations to the Surfrider Foundation Kimberley Branch, we will be able to organise this trip every year for children in remote Kimberley communities.”
-ENDS
NOTES TO EDITOR
1. For more information or for high resolution images of the children at all the locations mentioned in the press release please contact:
Clare Alcock
President Surfrider Kimberley Branch/Photographer
Email: clarealcock@live.com.au
Mobile: 0429 511 248
Surfrider-Kimberley Branch Blog: http://surfriderkimberleybranch.wordpress.com/
Surfrider Website: www.surfrider.org.au
2. Surfrider Foundation is an international not-for-profit organisation which has issues and programs continuously being coordinated throughout the world, and is operated by a vast network of volunteers who strive to protect and enhance the natural coastal environment.
3. Surfrider Foundation Australia is comprised of, over 29 regional branches and a National Body. The organisation is dedicated to the protection and enhancement of Australia’s oceans, waves and beaches for all people, through CARE: Conservation, Activism, Research and Education.
4. *The Wardandi people were the traditional custodians of the land bounded by Capel to the Northeast, Augusta in the South and including the regions now known as Busselton, Yallingup and Margaret River.
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