STAFF WRITERS
COMMUNITY SPORT
A BIG Sports Day pop-up event is coming to Mid Valley Shopping Centre tomorrow.
Facilitated by a number of local youth support services and other organisations, the exciting day will be an opportunity for young people and their families to find out what local services are available.
GippSport StreetGames will facilitate games of soccer and dodgeball.
They will also bring an inflatable dartboard that has been donated by Optus.
Other organisations involved are YSAS, Latrobe Youth Space and Latrobe City Council.
A total of 19 community organisations and business partners are involved in the event.
Showbags will be on offer for the first 150 people who come along, and free sausage sizzle will be in full swing.
Bread will be provided by Morwell Bakers Delight and sausages by Norm Oliver Meats.
Morwell Neighbourhood Watch will be manning the barbecue on the day.
This is the second time GippSport has facilitated the Big Sports Day.
“GippSport has delivered many sports days in the past with a variety of organisations, they’ve all been really successful,” said GippSport’s Den Lim, who has been driving the project.
“This is the most organisations we’ve had join us in delivering the program.”
YSAS Morwell’s Community Programs manager Mark Tanti said the event is a great
opportunities for locals to meet the people behind support organisations, and get some knowledge about what services are actually available.
“We are providing another avenue for families to know who we are,” he said.
Tanti thanked Latrobe City Council for their assistance in organising the event this year and the year prior.
“Latrobe City Council have been absolutely fantastic in promoting this, they’re right behind us a we are very grateful,” he said.
Council’s Community Engagement Officer – Activating Young People, Georgia Karavis said Latrobe City will help out the organisers on the day of the event.
“I think the opportunity for us to bring people together again, and create those opportunities for face-to-face interaction is so important,” she said.
“We’ve provided support in terms for event management and we’ll be there helping on the day.”
Latrobe Youth Space, whose building is situated right across the road from the event, will be taking part in the Big Sports Day.
Youth Space provide activities and services that help young people grow their skills and experiences.
Youth Space program director Paul Bernthal said the Big Sports Day will be a good way to get the word out about what Youth Space and other organisations do for local young people.
He explained that much of what the Youth Space service does is driven by what young people want.
“We need to give youth a voice,” he said.
Event organisers would like to deliver the Big Sports Day a couple of times each year, and are inviting any potential partners or organisations to come forward and get involved.
The Big Sports Day is looking for funding to make upcoming events as successful as possible.
The event will begin at 3.30pm and run to 5.30pm tomorrow (Thursday, March 10) at Mid Valley Shopping Centre.
