Kalgoorlie-Boulder is nestled deep inland – almost halfway to the South Australian border – and is subject to hot summers, cold fronts and dust storms which can blanket the Goldfields township.

It lies on the traditional lands of the Wangkatja peoples, and the name itself is derived from the Wangai word "Karlkurla", which means “place of the silky pears”. It is part of the Wati language family, which continues to be spoken in Kalgoorlie-Boulder to this day.

Recently West Coast AFLW player Amber Ward, alongside former Eagle Hamish Brayshaw, and Community and Game Development Officer Chris Brown, were given the opportunity to visit Kalgoorlie-Boulder as role models, thanks to Youth Engagement Partner BHP.

The West Coast trio went straight from the airport on the edge of town, to Digger Daws Oval, surrounded by red dirt splayed across the sidewalks and historical buildings dating back to the gold rush era, to host Naitanui Academy and Female Academy sessions. 

“It’s always a great turnout at Digger Daws Oval in Boulder,” Chris Brown said.

“The girls were obviously really excited to have an AFLW player coach them, Amber was able to give them some insight into how the girls train at AFLW level, how they prepare and work on fundamental skills.”

“We followed this up with a Naitanui Academy session which was really well attended. We had players travel from communities across the Goldfields region, including Laverton amongst others.” 

The next morning, a Junior Fire Brigade event was hosted at the Oasis Recreational Centre, with Amber and Chris helping out locals on the ‘Fire Brigade Running Track’.

The Goldfields Zone Competition is a family-fun affair for youth aged 11-17 and involves a running race, followed by rolling out the fire hose, putting in the pump, and attempting to shoot a target. The group with the quickest time at the end wins the carnival.

“In that area all of the towns have volunteer fire brigades, so these carnivals are run as a way to get kids interested in joining the volunteer fire brigade,” Chris Brown explained.

“It was really fun, so we went along to that and ‘Wardy’ and I helped judge the races, we did the timing, and really we just got around the kids and the group, handed out giveaways and had chats, photos.

“It was really cool as something I wasn’t overly familiar with and the comradery between the towns was awesome.

“‘Wardy’ did really well, she was relaying the scores back to the groups as well as helping with the timing.

“They were really excited to see West Coast – and Rick the Rock – there, we spent a lot of time chatting to parents and they were so grateful we took the time to come out.

“‘Wardy’ was signing posters and getting photos and things like that, so it was a great day, and very well received.

“There’s Eagles fans in every corner of this state.”

From there, the group jumped into the four-wheel drive and headed for Kambalda, a 45 minute drive away to a township that sits on the western edge of a giant salt lake, Lake Lefroy.

When they arrived at Kambalda West District High School, the primary school students were treated to a visit from Rick the Rock as part of the Eagles Rock My School program.

After lunch, Amber delivered the SOAR program, inclusive of a ‘prep to play’ workshop, as well as teaching the young females how to tackle properly and protect themselves in the contest.

Meanwhile, Hamish and Chris took the boys out for a football training session in the Academy style, followed by an Eagle Insight Leadership Program.

“It was great to get there, the kids were so excited, we literally had to get into the car because school had finished and they were still following us for more signatures and photos, we signed rocks and bricks and everything,” Chris Brown laughed.

“There was really positive feedback in the player feedback forms that they really enjoyed getting an idea that there’s more to football than what you see on the park and that’s all a big part of that program.

“Obviously the kids were really excited to see an AFL player come to town, so it was great to be able to pick her brain about what it takes to be an elite sportswoman.

“It was fantastic, none of us had been to Kambalda before, so good trip all in all.”