Sport in the public schools provides opportunities for some students to help ease the pain of hardships they have had to endure in their lives – from a life where play and certainly the opportunities to compete in sport would not have been in the equation.

At the recent annual athletics carnival held by Sydney East Primary School Sport Association, we profile some of the students, who have fled their countries of origin and have produced outstanding results. 

Dau Akol (Engadine PS)

Dau Akol and his family fled from their home to escape the war in Sudan but were separated before they reached a refugee camp in Kenya.  Unfortunately their father died and their uncle applied to bring them to Australia.  Dau and his sister Nykir, 13 have lived with their uncle in Engadine and have not seen their mother for more than 5 years.

Dau is only 10 yrs old and already displaying remarkable talent in athletic events.  This year he won the Sydney East and the NSWPSSA Cross Country titles in his age group.  He was selected to represent NSW at the All Schools Cross Country Championships in Perth in September 2007.  Close to 900 competed at these titles. Dau went on to win the 10yrs 2000m.

Although Dau has been running the longer distances he competed at the Sydney East Regional Athletics Championships on September 25 and won the 800m. Although only in Year 4, Dau teacher says he is showing a great deal of promise in football as well.

Bright Appiah (Kensington PS)

Bright has come from Ghana and is another young lad showing natural talent in athletics.  His introduction to discus was to be shown how to throw it once, by a teacher at his school. The second time he picked up a discus was at the recent Sydney East Athletics Championships where he gained a second place in the 11 years age division.  Bright also won 100m and the 200m events at these championships.  One of the staff at the school said that he hadn’t known until he first competed at the E.S. Marks field that he had to run in lanes.

Alex and Andrew Jalloh (Belmore Nth PS)

Alex and Andrew Jalloh are twins and were refugees from Sierra Leone.  Their father died in the civil unrest and they were relocated here in 2003. 

Alex has represented NSWPSSA in rugby union, rugby league and football. He has played for his school twice in the Paul Kelly Cup - the Australian Football competition. In the two years he has played in his school team Belmore Nth PS have won the championship.

In September 2007 at the Sydney East Athletics Championships he has once again excelled.  He won the 100m, 200m, long Jump, shot put and came 2nd in the high jump.  At NSWPSSA Athletic Championships in 2006 he set a record in the 200m and again looks forward to competing at this year’s Championship. 

Andrew has been treated for stomach cancer so has been cheering his brother from the sideline.  He was selected in the NSWPSSA Australian Football team in 2007.  Unfortunately he had to withdraw due to sickness. 

Andrew competed at the Sydney East Athletics Championships in September and came 2nd in 100m.  This was a truly wonderful effort.  We wish him well in the future and a speedy recovery.

School Sport has provided a wonderful outlet for some new young Australians and we can only watch and admire their progress over the next decade.