AFL legends mentor Pymble students

Friday 6 May, 2016

This week our girls were delighted to welcome former Australian Football League legends Adam Goodes and Michael O’Loughlin to the school.

During his career in AFL, Adam won two Brownlow Medals and two premierships for the Sydney Swans Football Club. More recently he was named 2014 Australian of the Year for his promotion of education, employment and healthy lifestyles within Indigenous communities.

Michael O’Loughlin is one of the most awarded players in the history of South Melbourne and Sydney Swans Football Clubs and is currently Head Coach at the Sydney Swans Academy.

Their visit to Pymble was in partnership with the Australian Indigenous Education Foundation and their own Go Foundation. Currently, 19 students at Pymble hold Indigenous Scholarships, which we offer in partnership with AIEF including Layla, pictured with Adam Goodes.

Indigenous Scholarship holders from Pymble and several neighbouring schools enjoyed an energetic AFL skills session on the Main Oval with their heroes, followed by an informal dinner in the Senior School Centre Atrium. Adam and Michael also spoke from the heart to the girls about overcoming personal challenges and the importance of making the most of opportunities.

Adam and Michael’s visit was a great bonding and mentoring experience, in keeping with Pymble’s commitment to providing a balanced education that equally values academic, sporting and cultural excellence for each individual girl.