By Sheree Hoddinett
Is there a sport you have always wanted to try, but didn’t know much about it? Well, now you have the chance to take a step outside your comfort zone and give it a whirl. The Bribie Island Sport and Rec Hub are hosting a Come and Try Week 2024 at the end of February as a way of celebrating the diverse range of sports and clubs the Island has to offer the community.
The Bribie Island Sport and Rec Club is a new not-for-profit venture with a goal of creating an active and engaged community through sport and recreational clubs. It all came about during a training session at the Bribie Island Weightlifting Club where Jade Sharp pitched an idea to Elesha Piper about creating a ‘hub for clubs’ – a platform where information about all the clubs on the Island could be found in the one place. As well as having everything in one easy to find spot, the Hub would also be able to help clubs, especially those on a smaller scale, promote themselves to the community to bring new members on board and broaden their reach.
“So many of these smaller clubs are hidden treasures; people would join if only they knew about them,” Jade said. "Being a part of a club transcends physical activity; it fosters community connections that enrich your entire life.”
Jade has a vast background in sport, having grown up playing netball on the Island with her mum coaching and her father and brothers playing for the Bribie Island Tigers and Bribie Island Warrigals.
“I also delved into gymnastics during its brief existence on Bribie,” she said. “At the age of 12, I left Bribie and my family to pursue my dream of becoming an Olympic gymnast. I relocated to the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra on a scholarship and eventually earned a spot on the 1996 Olympic team. Unfortunately I was injured after selection.
“During that time, the overwhelming support from the kids of Bribie, as evidenced by hundreds of letters, left a lasting impression on me and my teammates. It was remarkable to witness such strong support from such a small community. This experience stayed with me, fueling my desire to give back to our community.”
Jade and Elesha are already members of a small club – Bribie Island Weightlifting Club, where Jade is head coach and Elesha comes along to train. For Elesha, joining the weightlifting club gave her somewhere to get to know others after relocating to the Island without knowing anyone.
“We're just getting started, but a core part of our mission is raising awareness in our community about the amazing clubs available to them," Elesha, who leverages her background in marketing and communications for the cause, said. "We also aim to provide clubs with essential resources, like social media marketing and grant writing workshops, to help them grow.”
Now with the home base in place, Jade and Elesha are working hard on bringing Come and Try Week 2024 together. During this special week held from February 19-25, participating clubs will roll out a variety of beginner-friendly activities and introductory sessions, held at their clubhouse.
"This is a chance for clubs to show the community what they're all about," Elesha said. "We've been reaching out to clubs to get their feedback about the idea and we're excited to already have many clubs on board."
“This is a great opportunity for our community members to discover new sports and activities, meet new friends and foster a love for physical and social activities,” Jade adds.
“Having spent my childhood on Bribie, I vividly recall the strong sense of community fostered through sports. Back then, we enjoyed numerous community events that seamlessly integrated sports into multi-sport, fun competition days and other gatherings. Unfortunately, that connection seems somewhat diminished now, prompting us to explore ways to rekindle it for the community. Elesha discovered a vibrant community of friends by engaging in CrossFit and Olympic weightlifting. We aspire to extend this opportunity to any community member seeking that same sense of belonging, making our exceptional clubs on Bribie accessible to all.”
For Jade, also a mother of teen boys, reaching kids on Bribie and the surrounding community is especially meaningful.
"It's crucial to engage teenagers in these clubs,” she said. “We want to help them find activities that not only excite them but also make them feel a part of something bigger—be it through sports, arts or any other enriching recreational activity.
“Engaging in sports provides teenagers with a powerful outlet for self-expression, fostering a sense of accomplishment and boosting self-esteem. Beyond the physical benefits, the camaraderie and teamwork inherent in sports contribute to building lasting friendships, providing vital emotional support during the challenging adolescent years.
“Sports not only instill discipline and resilience but also serve as a valuable tool for stress relief, offering teenagers a constructive means to navigate the complexities of their emotions.”
Moving forward, Jade is hoping to turn the Come and Try Week into an annual event, but with a slightly different approach and eventually build on the roots that are forming.
“Our goal for the future is to transform this into a day-long event held at a centralised venue,” Jade said. “This event will serve as a gathering point for our community, providing them with the opportunity to explore numerous fantastic sports and recreational clubs.
“Envisioned as a community-centric affair, the event will feature exhibits, challenges, food trucks, games and of course, clubs offering educational insights, information and a hands-on experience of what they bring to the table.
“We will also host the Bribie Island Sports Awards night where we recognise not just great athletic performances and teams, but we also recognise smaller clubs, volunteers and projects.”
Whether you're seeking a new passion or simply want to dive deeper into Bribie Island's vibrant community, check out what the Come and Try Week 2024 has to offer. For clubs wanting to join the Come and Try Week 2024 or for anyone seeking further information, please contact the Bribie Island Sport and Rec Hub via email bribiesrh@gmail.com, visit their website https://bribiesrh.wixsite.com/bribiesrh or follow them on Facebook.
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