Since in 2000, Lewis has coached in Darwin and in country Victoria, but now has joined Swan Districts as an assistant coach, as well as Indigenous Welfare Officer.

It is the largest regionally-based program of its kind in Australia and helps not just Aboriginal students, but all in the region.

“If people get through school and finish their education, the world is their oyster,” Lewis said.

“There are plenty of opportunities, but they really need to prepare themselves for that the best they can and I aim to help them as much as I can to make the best of their lives.”

By Chris Pike

Eagles Champion Playing Leading Role in Pilbara Development

  The Kicking Goals program for the Pilbara region run by the Swan Districts Football Club, BHP Billiton and the West Coast Eagles is now in its fourth year and Eagles champion Chris Lewis has come on board to conduct the programs in the region. 

Swan Districts has been looking after the Pilbara zone, including towns of Port Hedland, Newman and Karratha since 2003, with BHP Billiton Iron Ore. The program is the largest regionally-based program of its kind in Australia and hopes to guide, teach and inspire Aboriginal students. 

The program aims to improve school retention rates, encourage healthy choices and improve anti-social behaviour. It is enhancing education and lifestyle outcomes for Aboriginal youngsters and helping them achieve their full potential. 

West Coast Eagles premiership players Dean Cox and Beau Waters, Perth Orioles netball players Kodie Blay and Susan Fuhrmann, WAFL umpire Paul Pitchers joined Lewis at Hedland Senior High School recently.

 Activities ranged from lifestyle and educational issues, to running football clinics with the kids from year eight to the seniors at the school.

 Lewis has returned to WA after spending time in Darwin and Ballarat (Victoria) coaching after finishing his illustrious AFL career with West Coast in 2000. He will be working at Swan Districts as an assistant coach, but also in a full-time capacity as Aboriginal Talent Development Officer and Indigenous Welfare Officer. 

“I have to really work with a lot of the young kids now, because they didn’t know me as a footballer, but it gives me a leg in. You need to work up a good basis with them and that can take from anywhere to a week or a year, depending on the individual,” said Lewis.

 “The biggest key is people wanting to help themselves. I can point them in the right direction and give them some good advice, but if the person that is involved doesn’t want to come half way and make their way in life, it can become hard.”

 Eventually having players from the region is a goal for Swans, but at the moment there are a lot of hurdles to overcome. In the meantime, getting the kids an education and hopefully jobs is the major focus, with BHP to lend a hand in all capacities.

 “We would like to get some players eventually to Swan Districts. There is a lot of talent up here, but for some reason, it doesn’t get accessed,” he said.

 “Without the mining companies located in the Pilbara, the towns wouldn't survive. If people get through school and finish their education, the world is their oyster. There are plenty of opportunities, but they really need to prepare themselves for that the best they can.

” For Lewis to see his role and the program a success, they would like to see the kids develop into adults that have a positive impact on their community.

 “If one person succeeds that is a win for us. Success might just be holding down a job from nine to five, being a good community member, good leader and that’s the way we need to look at it,” he said.

 “There’s also the opportunity to make a lot of money too, but with Aboriginal people, money isn’t everything, but certainly helps life run a bit smoother.

” Football provides great role models for Aboriginal boys in particular, but so often the girls are left out. The Kicking Goals program is for girls just as much as boys and they were particularly pleased with having the two netballers coming to talk to them in particular.

 “Young girls are mentally tougher and able to better handle challenge early in life, but unfortunately they don’t get the right opportunities,” he said.

 “A lot of them fall pregnant at early ages and that puts them behind the eight ball. The good thing about the Kicking Goals program is that we involve the girls.

 “Footy’s just the vehicle we carry the program with, there is also plenty of opportunities for girls out there. The Orioles girls were a great support. With their encouragement we hope to concentrate on helping girls get through their vital development."

 Lewis identifies some problem areas, particularly those kids that do well at sport or school that get left to their own devices and would like to see them receive more attention.

Students that perform well receive great rewards, while those determined to be at-risk receive special attention to help get them on the right pathway.

“It’s important to try and help every kid, but unfortunately those that show potential; they get left to their own devices, as they aren’t a hassle. These are the ones that can slip through the gaps and it’s important that we concentrate on those kids,” he said.

“If they show a consistency in coming to school and performing well, we need to reward them. This program rewards the students through personal experiences with their heroes from the Eagles and by funded opportunities to go on footy trips during the year.”

The Eagles and Orioles players were only in town for the one day, but Lewis returned to the school the following day as well. The kids loved getting to run around with Lewis, and the day at the high school concluded with an exciting game on the school’s oval.

 The trip concluded with a visit to Cassia Primary School, but Lewis will be back and forth from Perth to the throughout the year and he hopes his experiences can help the kids. “We can only talk about it and set good examples. Hopefully their parents set good examples, but at the moment they grow up with too many bad influences around.” 

By Chris Pike

Chris Lewis to Co-ordinate Kicking Goals Program

  Ever since the Pilbara region came under control of Swan Districts in 2003 they established the Kicking Goals program, which will now be co-ordinated by former West Coast champion Chris Lewis.

 Lewis returns to Western Australia after two-year coaching stints in Darwin and Ballarat with Sebastopol. He comes to Swan Districts as both a league assistant coach and Indigenous Welfare Officer, encompassing the Aboriginal players with the club and in the Pilbara towns of Port Hedland, Newman and Karratha.

 Lewis recently made his first official trip to Port Hedland, the local high school and a primary school. Joining him were West Coast premiership stars Dean Cox and Beau Waters, Perth Orioles netballers Kodie Blay and Susan Fuhrmann, WAFL umpire Paul Pitchers and new Swan Districts recruit Tyson Lane.

 The Kicking Goals program, run by Swan Districts, BHP Billiton Iron Ore and the West Coast Eagles, is the largest regionally-based program of its kind in Australia and hopes to help all in the region to finish their education and make something of themselves.

 “Everything has changed from when I was going to school Mirrabooka and Christchurch Grammar,” Lewis said.

 “There is a lot more options for the kids, which was good to see firsthand. There are also a lot of opportunities at school for the young people that I didn’t have growing up, so if they want to work hard and get the right help, they can do whatever they want.

” As a role model for the youngsters, Lewis is as good as it gets and they all took a genuine interest in what he had to say and also in getting the opportunity to interact with him.

 “I can point them in the right direction and give them some good advice, but if the person that is involved doesn’t want to come half way and make their way in life, it can become hard,” he said.

 “There are plenty of opportunities to succeed, but probably just as many, if not more, not to. They have to make the right choices, but we can only help them out based on our own experiences.

” The immediate goals are to help keep the kids in school, get an education and help them steer clear of trouble; with an eventual goal to having players join Swan Districts.

 “We would like to get some players eventually to Swan Districts. There is a lot of talent up here, but for some reason, it doesn’t get accessed properly,” he said.

 “If people get through school and finish their education, the world is their oyster. There are plenty of opportunities, but they really need to prepare themselves for that the best they can. 

Given that the program is run by a football club, it would be easy to solely focus on the males, as they are the ones that are potential recruits. However, girls are just as much part of the program and in the recent trip, were actually more excited about meeting Lewis and the Eagles pair.

 “The boys always seem to get help, but the girls miss out. Young girls are mentally tougher and able to better handle challenge early in life, but unfortunately they don’t get the right opportunities,” he said.

 “A lot of them fall pregnant at early ages and are behind the eight ball. Footy’s just the vehicle we carry the program with, the Orioles girls were great and we need to concentrate on helping girls get through and make something of themselves.”

 Lewis will be travelling regularly to the region during the year and Swan Districts and Claremont will also play a WAFL match in Port Hedland on July 21. 

By Chris Pike