Community rallies to send young Sudanese sporting star to national titles
An appeal launched by New England Mutual to send a highly talented young Sudanese basketball player to the national titles in Darwin has received an instantaneous response.
NEM pitched in $500 to boost the appeal and other businesses and individuals have quickly reached into their pockets to contribute towards meeting the target.
Makuach Malauch, a student and sports captain at Drummond Memorial School, came to Armidale in 2008 with his mother, sister and four younger brothers through the efforts of Sanctuary which has settled 63 refugee families from South Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea and The Democratic Republic of Congo in the city over the last eight years.
Although he spoke no English Makuach distinguished himself on the sports field as an athlete from the start. He had never played basketball until last year but now almost six feet tall the 12-year-old has been selected to the NSW Primary Schools Sporting Association (PSSA) basketball team to compete at the national titles in August.
Matauch caught the eyes of the selectors at the recent PSSA primary boys basketball carnival in Menai where in one match he scored 48 of the team's 62 points to beat North Coast. He will be the first primary school representative from the north west area to compete at national carnival for more than 15 years.
"As new settlers to Armidale the family cannot afford to meet the expense of the trip," said NEM CEO Kevin Dupé. "Steve McMillan of the Armidale Sports Council raised the alert and within a very short period there has been a tremendous response from the community to send this very talented boy to the titles."
He said an account had been opened in Makauch's name at New England Mutual's Armidale branch for people wanting to contribute to the appeal.
Sanctuary member Fran Armitage who with her husband David supports the family to settle into Armidale said the response to the appeal had been "fantastic". "To live in a community which is willing to embrace a young man in need and give him such an opportunity at such short notice is truly amazing," she said. "He is a natural sportsman and is a beautiful player to watch, so graceful and so very talented."
As well as NEMl, Roberts and Morrow, Smith Sharpe and Abbott, Hutchinson and Harlow, the Australian Business Apprenticship Scheme have made major financial contributions. Armidale Sportspower is donating $300 of sporting gear and several other donations have been promised. Armidale Sports Council will also look to join those who have supported Makuach.
"It's a great result," Mr McMillan said. "Being relatively new to our community, it was overwhelming to see the level of support from so many individuals and businesses in giving this young man an opportunity to represent NSW in Basketball, as without that support he would have struggled to make the trip."
Above: All hands on deck to send Makuach to Darwin – (back) Andrew Toomey (Smith Sharpe & Abbott), Michael Clark (Hutchinson & Harlow), Makuach Malauch, Peter Rickards ( Australian Business Apprenticeship Centre), Paul Schmude (SportsPower). (front) Kevin Dupé, Fran Armitage, Liz Egan ( Armidale and District Chamber of Commerce).
