The Gold Coast SUNS as part of the No Boundaries partnership program, have just completed their 2nd visit for the year to theremote Northern Peninsula Region community, the northern most point in Queensland.

The Gold Coast SUNS in partnership with AFL Cape York, NPARC and NPA College have embarked on the No Boundaries program to help encourage students to stay in school through the no school no play message.

The program has run for the first time this year through the financial support of FAHCSIA, to deliver the program.

Gold Coast SUNS players Roland Ah Chee and Alik Magin travelled up to the Cape York region to deliver the program over 3 days in the lead up to the Gold Coast SUNS vs Richmond game in Cairns.

This activities included talking to students about the importance of staying in school, being healthy and active and encouraging them to play sport.

And the message seemed to work.

For the first ever time, structured football games were held on the 2nd day of the visit, after promoting the event through all of the local schools earlier in the day.

With the goal posts having only gone in 2 days before at the New Mapoon oval, excitement through the day was building as a large crowd entered the venue.

First up was an Under 13’s game followed by the Under 16 game and finally the Open age game which saw a wonderful mix of the community including school teachers, police officers, Gold Coast SUNS staff, an AFL Executive and some wonderful indigenous talent, very new to AFL.

For many of those in the indigenous community, it was the first time they had ever kicked a football and for the majority the first time they had played the game, but as the game and night unfolded their natural talent showed their amazing ability to pick up the game of AFL.

AFL Cape York Program Manager Rick Hanlon said “ The Partnership program is a win win in all facets. It gives the GC SUNS the chance to broaden their brand and attract new supporters to the game “.

For us, it gives AFL Cape York a broader structure and program delivery and the kids get the chance to engage with professional athletes which in some cases are examples of players who have come from a similar environment”

Gold Coast SUNS Community Program Manager Corey Bell said “For our club to be our to contribute to a partnership program that benefits this remote community is great.”

“As a club, we are committed to working out in the community both on the Gold Coast and right throughout Country Queensland and this program allows us to do that”.

The No Boundaries program will have a return exchange visit during the middle of August which will be the 3rd and final part of the program and will allow 10 Indigenous students who have adhered to the program, to come to the Gold Coast and watch the Gold Coast SUNS play against Adelaide on Saturday 20th August.