Common Ground

Wenona students champion unity through sport.

In a landmark event, 32 members of the Wenona Youth Alliance and students from seven Youth Off The Streets (YOTS) schools came together for the inaugural Wenona – Youth Off The Streets Sports Gala.

As author and researcher, Brené Brown, reminds us, "Connection is why we're here; it is what gives purpose and meaning to our lives." – and this student-led event embodied that truth perfectly. According to Director of Students, Kindergarten to Year 12, Ms Sue Foxcroft, it was a “powerful celebration of inclusivity, resilience, and community partnership”.

The idea emerged during Wenona’s Women in Leadership speaker series, when Youth Off The Streets CEO, Ms Judy Barraclough, asked Year 11 Renaissance Studies students to reflect on what meaningful service and charity truly look like. In the audience were Jessica and Phoebe (now in Year 12), who decided to embrace the challenge. "Ms Barraclough's speech was incredibly inspiring and provoked planning into events we could offer to improve the lives of YOTS students," said Phoebe, who is also the Wenona Sports Captain. "Jessie ran lunchtime meetings to discuss administrative progress while I reported back on what the sports captains and teachers had been discussing. We ensured there was time for all students to share their vision and ideas for the day."

Held in Week 4 of Term 2, the event was also attended by the principals and other staff from participating YOTS schools, who brought high energy and enthusiasm that contributed to the vibrant, inclusive atmosphere. As the students from all schools participated in time-tested activities such as ultimate frisbee, netball, football, and an epic tug-of-war, they quickly moved beyond initial nerves to a shared sense of determination and friendship.

A moment of practical problem-solving perhaps best summed up the natural inclusiveness of the day. "When one student mentioned their boots were making it hard to move around, Tully (Year 12) quietly said, 'We’ll all take off our shoes’,” Ms Foxcroft explained. Within moments, shoes were off across the team.

The special guests at the event were Australian Football League Women’s players, Meghan Gaffney and Georgia Garnett, from the GWS Giants. They presented four ‘Heart of Champions’ medals for courage, leadership, and sportsmanship to YOTS students. They also inspired everyone by sharing their personal stories of perseverance and answering questions about elite competition. The Heart of Champions trophy will now rotate between the seven participating schools − a symbol of pride, effort, and connection.

"The whole experience was eye-opening and allowed me to gain insight into the intricacies of event planning, and the importance of volunteer work," Phoebe said. "I learned so much, but what struck me most was an understanding that not everything has to be perfect for everyone to have a good time. I also saw that regardless of our backgrounds, we are all the same on the inside – we really enjoyed getting to meet and connect with the YOTS students."

As Ms Foxcroft summed up, "This was a day that reflected the very heart of Wenona and its motto, Ut Prosim, that I may serve". It was more than just a day of sport, "It was a demonstration of what happens when young people lead with heart and purpose."