Formally unveiled by Minister for Indigenous Affairs, The Hon. John Kobelke, the Foundation is based in the premises vacated by Subiaco Football Club at the end of 2004.
Workstations, kitchen facilities and a lounge area have been set up for the many indigenous adolescents the Foundation will mentor, serving as a general meeting place of both refuge and resource.
Presented with a grant by Minister Kobelke on behalf of Lotteries West, a proud David Wirrpunda was all smiles at this morning’s launch, flanked by Foundation chairman Chris Cronin and manager Sharon Hayden.
“It’s been a dream of mine to do something like this since I was a little kid,” Wirrpunda said. “Growing up in a political family back home gives me the motivation to carry on with that and what my family has done in Victoria. It’s satisfying for myself but again there’s bigger and better things that I want to try to push on with as well.
“On targeting or working with the schools, it gives me a better chance to work with them first-hand. It’s just easier for me to keep an eye on what they’re doing and for them to give feedback to me and the other mentors who’ll be working with them. It’s just a good little spot for them to come in and relax and it’s a lot easier to communicate with them.”
With the objective of promoting strong role models and healthy life choices to indigenous children, the David Wirrpunda Foundation transformed from dream to reality upon its launch in February.
“The Eagles have been supporting me 100% since I was 16,” Wirrpunda confirmed. “They knew eventually that this was the type of field and direction I wanted to take and I have no doubt that people like (West Coast Eagles chief executive and David Wirrpunda Foundation director) Trevor Nisbett was behind me 100 %.
“With the football club’s help, they’re just so professional at making sure that every player individually is well looked after and they’ll do everything to make sure their requirements are met off-field.
“It’s a direction I would have taken regardless of whether my football career was successful. Like I said before, it’s just good to have your professional life and what you do personally, juggling them both together and they’re both going well.”
Mentors that will act on behalf of the Foundation are Wirrpunda’s teammate Ashley Sampi and Fremantle midfielder Troy Cook.
“I have the utmost respect for people like Troy Cook,” Wirrpunda said. “He’s been doing that work since day one as well and has been one of my mentors. Even though we’re in different colours and all the rest of it, we have the same ethics and we want to address the same issues. Whether we like it or not, a lot of the issues are for indigenous people and we’re both indigenous. It’s easy to work with each other and speak with each other because we have the same way.”
Wirrpunda is also quick to acknowledge the responsibilities of the Foundation and his position as chief mentor and namesake.
“That’s just part and parcel with it,” he said. “My relationship with these young kids and the youth that I work with go beyond business hours. That’s just something I have to accept and it’s something I’m prepared to do as well.
“Just like a lot of things that come with football, people are going to recognise you and scrutinise your style of play or whatever it might be. That’s the public’s point of view, but at the end of the day I know what I want to do as a person and I know where this Foundation wants to go.”
