St Paul’s school emerging in the sporting landscape of Logan

St Paul’s school students emerge in track and field to add to Logan City’s reputation as a Queensland sporting mecca.

Year 6 St Paul's student Geba Kamara, left, and Year 5 student Matty Fualema. Image: Peter Wallis.

Despite having just 340 students, including almost 70 per cent whose first language is not English, St Paul’s school, Woodridge has budding stars in Futsal, cricket and also athletics - as the track and field world will see at this month’s School Sport Australia Track and Field Championships in Sydney.

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Raw talent, dedication and encouragement have catapulted Year 6 student Geba Kamara and Year 5 student Matty Fualema into the national titles which start on November 28.

The students will enter the championships armed with recent titles won at the Queensland School Sport championships.

Geba is coming off impressive wins in the boys’ 11 years combined events and the 200m sprint, while Matty claimed the girls’ 10 years shot put.

These results are encouraging for both athletes who only started structured track and field training this year under the guidance of PE teacher Mrs Sam Scott and Year 6 teacher Mr Larry Lee.

Matty Fualema of St Paul's school in Woodridge. Image courtesy of Peter Wallis.

As a sign of continued support for the school’s talent, St Paul’s will send Mr Lee to accompany the students and their families to the national titles to help them against Australia’s best young performers.

St Paul’s principal Mrs Helen Boyes said the two athletes were an inspiration for all St Paul’s students who had been riding the journey with them through Logan, Metropolitan East and state championships.

QLD ALL SCHOOLS CHAMPIONSHIPS

DAY 1 COVERAGE

DAY 2 COVERAGE

DAY 3 COVERAGE

DAY 4 COVERAGE

“This is very exciting for St Paul’s because we really want our students to have the same opportunities as anyone to achieve their goals,” Ms Boyes said.

“We are a faith-filled community nurturing confident and creative contributors.

“We have nearly 70 per cent of our students who speak a first language other than English so they have to work hard with the school curriculum to achieve their potential. But sport speaks all languages and it provides a great opportunity for our students to have fun, test themselves and to improve against quality competition.”

Ready, set, go - Geba Kamara is off to the All School nationals - image courtesy Peter Wallis.

She said the pair’s result had sparked a strong interest in athletics at St Paul’s as more students developed their skills.

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The school has now received a Go For Gold Government Grant to build a tartan runway and long jump pit on their oval, giving students a local training base.

Away from track and field, St Paul’s is building a strong contingent in other sports. Year 6 student Neriah has been chosen for a Futsal team – five-a-side indoor soccer – for titles in China next year.

Year 5 student John and Year 4 student Zekiel have also received Futsal selection for a world event in the Philippines next year. And young cricketer Dhaksha was chosen in the girls’ Metropolitan East schools’ team for the state titles.

St Paul’s principal Helen Boyes said she was proud of the students.

She said sport had helped build school spirit, and the spirit of St Paul’s would flow through Matty and Geba when they enter the Sydney stadium at the end of the month.