What started as social connection between school students grew into a community-wide handball tournament in Gunnedah last week.
The inaugural handball event was hosted by the Ripple Effect Northwest to promote positive wellbeing and engagement among local youth and community.
Jacinta Mannion said the organisation’s philosophy is that from small actions and initiatives, big ripples can spread far and wide.
“Ripple Effect Northwest is a group of community-minded people creating positive ripples through education, connection and fun. We fund Mental Health First Aid Training and facilitate initiatives like our handball comp .. to bring people together, boost wellbeing and to strengthen our community,” Jacinta said.
Twenty-two handball players from the community, schools and local business took part in a knockout-styled format last Friday outside the Smithurst Theatre.
After some competitive early rounds, the St Mary s College duo of Alex Eagan and Noah Prince faced off in the final. In the end it was Alex’s lightning quick skills and determination that won the day.
“He was very focused and determined,” Jacinta said.
“He definitely had that look on his face that he was very serious. He takes his handball very seriously.”
The handball convenor joked how she heard from a “reliable source” that Alex didn’t even take part in school handball matches that day to ensure he was adequately prepared for the town event.
The idea for the handball competition was initiated by committee founder Kate Pinn, who could see the potential that handball would bring to engage the community, of all ages.
“It’s had a really positive impact on the schools that were involved in the competition,” Jacinta said.
While there were many highlights throughout the handball tournament – including the evergreen skills of seasoned handball players like Glen Pinn and sharp reaction times by Dan Pass – Jacinta said the community connection was a big winner on the day.
“It was good to have people from all different ages, businesses and community groups … it was just a really nice afternoon for everyone to come together,” she said.
“Ripple Effect has been going for a couple of years and people actually know us in the community now, what we’re about, what our goals are and how we support the community.
“That was really nice, that recognition and getting people knowing more about Ripple Effect.”
Jacinta said developing meaningful conversations and engagement among youth, leads to better overall wellbeing which is a positive for everyone involved.
Organisers hope to stage the handball competition as an annual community event.
Next up on the Ripple Effect calendar is the Lure Up program which involves school students creating their own fishing lures and catching a fish hopefully .
