WA’s brightest young Indigenous stars light up Katanning Clontarf basketball carnival

Some of the region’s brightest and most athletic Indigenous students were in Katanning last week to play basketball as part of the Clontarf Academy program. One-hundred Aboriginal students from Narrogin, Albany, Katanning, Perth, Bunbury, Collie and Coodanup took part in the Katanning Clontarf Basketball Carnival, representing their respective academies on June 4 and 5. Newton Moore Academy took home the accolades in the Year 7/8 division, while Coodanup Academy won the Year 9/10 division. Katanning Clontarf Academy director Daniel Brierty said the carnival was put on to reward the achievements of students and to bolster youth education engagement. “These events are important as they help to deliver real-life outcomes for our boys,” he said, “The event brings students together in a positive environment and assists in developing leadership, discipline and life skills. “In our carnivals we emphasise using the Clontarf spirit by playing with dignity, good sportsmanship and having fun.” Katanning Clontarf Academy has been running in conjunction with Katanning Senior High School since 2010. “We use sport including football, cricket and basketball to engage students in our program with two morning training sessions a week along with various carnivals, camps and community activities throughout the year,” Mr Brierty said.