Scotch College

Football Magic from the Tiwi Islands

During any boy's Scotch career there are those memorable days which resonate decades later at reunions. Many current Scotch boys will long remember that day in August 2002 when a touring party of students and community leaders from the Tiwi Islands visited Scotch and treated the school to a unique football experience.

Since 1996 Scotch football squads have made biennial visits to the islands located 80 kilometres north of Darwin and a thirty minute flight by light aircraft. "The visit by the Tiwi Islands party to Melbourne was a great opportunity for us to reciprocate the wonderful hospitality which we have received during our visits to their community",

Dr Robert Smith (Teacher in Charge of Football) explained.

The visit commenced with a welcome reunion with the Scotch boys who had visited the Tiwi Islands earlier this year followed by a dance performance at a Year 10 assembly.

But most importantly the visitors had come to play and there was great anticipation for the game scheduled for lunchtime on the Meares Oval.

Despite an obvious difference in the age and composition of the teams the match thrilled the big crowd of students. The amazing agility and football intuition of the visitors was apparent with a huge torpedo punt goal by a Tiwi player the absolute game highlight.

In the end the victory by Scotch was immaterial compared to the wonderful warmth of the atmosphere engendered by the visit. Indeed the Herald Sun the next day spoke of the way the Scotch boys embraced their visitors during the breaks in the match.

As is the custom on the Tiwi Islands there was a post-match barbecue for players and staff. "The visit further cemented our links to the islands and the community and we look forward to fostering these links in the future", Dr Smith added.

Bruce Brown - Staff