Mornington Shire Council is working with Anthony Mundine to support the latest sports program to hit the remote community – Boxing.
The Mornington Island Boxing Squad travelled to Cairns last week to box at their first tournament at Edge Hill State School (Friday 24th June).
The guys have been training since Christmas and run approximately 20km a day while gym training for 2.5 hours in the evenings – a huge achievement for the young men aged 14 – 25.
According to the coach Derek Smith (who is a carpenter within Council’s housing program), the guys are already completing training workshops in the council gym that put them on par with those who have boxed for 5 years.
“Council are really proud of the team’s achievements already, and we are also hoping to work with Mundine’s company Boxer – even to offer special “island boxing camps” for Olympic Squads to come out here and train in the pristine Mornington Shire.”
This Mornington Shire Council initiative will give these local kids another opportunity, “the intention is to give added focus and fitness to the champion kids out here- something every other Aussie kid has access to” said Mr Smith.
The boxing crew has a no.1 rule for the younger kids – “if you don’t go to school, you don’t get to box”.
And the local Lardil name Mundalbi (symbolic to the remote team) means “solid as a rock”.
This first competition trip wouldn’t have been possible without the assistance of major sponsors which include Mornington Shire Council who kindly sponsored flights and accommodation.
The boxing crew will be training early every morning along the Cairns Esplanade (while in the city) and will incorporate swim training into their drills (at the Cairns lagoon), as there is no aquatic centre in the shire.
Other main sponsors for this state wide boxing competition (June 24) include Mission Australia (uniforms),Dragons Den Butcher (pro. boxing equipment), Jobfind (grocery support while travelling), Gununamanda Store (travel support) and Junkuri Laka (travel support).
This journey is one of the longest (largest) in Australia for the team Daniel Linden, Braedon Linden, Macualay Moon and Phillip Narannatjal.
But with them all the way is Coach Derek, needed support for such a huge achievement in such a short amount of time.
Best of luck for the future to the boxing crew.
The Mornington Island Boxing Squad needs every bit of help possible, any sponsors please check out the www.mornington.qld.gov.au. For more information on the Mornington Island boxing squad contact:gacc@mornington.qld.gov.au or ddpsmith@hotmail.com .
Photos: Mornington Shire Council.
