Day 7 - Bush & Barbie

On Sunday morning we started our last full day in Melbourne. Jack was still in town after seeing The Lions just loose by one point on The Wallabies. By the time Jack was on a bus back to Bacchus Marsh we already left to beat the bushes at Werrobee Gorge State park.

Had a short walk with an elevation up to 235 meters above sealevel till the Dutchies found it hard to breath. Chasing some black roo's in the forest and took some photos of the valley.

This day no korfball activity though we took the korfs to our place. Monday we fly to Adelaide and bring 9 korfs to the locals.

But before that we first made our selves a typical Australian barbie. With the help of Ben and Jess we found ourselves soon between the most deliciousfood.

Monday we have a travel day!

Day 6 - Melbourne

We took today off. Some players went to see their homies play netball. Some of our players went by public transport to the city of Melbourne.

Today we saw our first clouds, where other mornings were bright, blue and shiny, today we woke up with a grey cloudy sky.

In Melbourne wevisited together the AFL game between Melbourne and the Western Buldogs. Both teams are at the botom of the League so the MCG-stadion, near the Melbourne tennis ground was nearly occupied.

Day 5 - Wildlife & Bacchus Marsh

Waking up in the cold in Australia still seems to be something difficult to get used to. Again we did today. But on the other hand we probably can be lucky that we are witness of so many consecutive days of sunshine and almost 20 C, temperature where even the roo's take power naps during the afternoon. To get more info and knowledge on the locals we decided to take Aldar and Edwin to a wildlife park.

We arrived 5 minutes before the start of a Koala show. And a show it was. In the sun the roo's were anger to tell us their stories.

Among animals we recognized wombats, Tasmanian devils, echidnas, koalas, kangaroos, alpacas and of course a lot of birds, including Australian largest bird of pray the Wedged-tailed Eagle.

After a day of animal watching, we went back to Bacchus March to grab a bite. The evening programmer consisted of 4 exhibition matches. The team from the Netherlands played against 4 different teams. Some of them local, even a team from Drysedale.

Some socializing after the match in a local pub in Drysdale with life music and some good old stories....

Day 4 - Meet up with the group in Drysedale

A happy breakfast and an early leave for the last clinic of today in the neighborhood. Secondary school Brookside in Caroline Springs. Although in the middle of Down-under winter we started with a beautiful sun, clear blue sky and a mix of Australian kids from all over the world. Enthusiastic, directly after we introduced the sport, explain the meaning of the word korf, we got already 7 girls and 6 boys who challenged the instructors. We are lucky to be able to play Aussie rules fast4: 2 korfs, 1 pitch, 2 teams and one defender per player (equal gender). First team scored directly, so also the other teams were eager to play. Fourtysix students from all over the place, playing together, communicate and bringing the meaning of team play to a higher level!

We combined some techniques with exercises to improve the understanding of the game. Introduced them to a tournament and gave them the opportunity to challenge us individually. What we loved with these kids is the sportsmanship. 

They played rough, and you know when I say rough, its on the limit, probably even over the limit. But players accept it, accept the referee like AFL or in rugby. Would be a challenge to get people in the Netherlands educated like this. Play it hard and fair...In the afternoon we had the second group. Enthusiastic 12-year old kids, trying to show off, but even able to show off. Both groups gave their teachers a chance to join them, teacher who came back to us after the clinic with compliments that even professional AFL or rugby coaches were not able to open the minds of the kids like we did today.

After the game we went to Drysedale to meet up with the rest of the group we said goodbye on Monday when we arrived. Also the Drysedale group is fantastically being treated by their host families. After a diner we relaxed and at 19.00 we played a friendly match. The Drysedale team vs Team Bachus Marsh / Taylors Hill. 

After 7 attacks the score was 4-3, the orange team, including Orange Kangaroo Jess took a small lead at halftime. At the break the Whites, including Portuguese ref Jorge, came back and equalized. The last four attacks the better chances were colored white but the referee stopped after 30 minutes with a well deserved draw. After a drink break the spectators were given a chance to join one of the teams and play korfball for the first tome in their life.

A new experience for many parents of children who are the Australian champions of the future. And we were at their start!

Day 3 - Melton secondary school

We thought this morning we would freeze. A couple of degrees above zero. We arrived after a short drive, right on time at the old school of Jess. Inside the sport hall they tried to be nice and even cooled the place like it was Thialf. In the freezing cold we had to clean the ice, put the six korfs (from which 4 seem to be the cane ones from Swan) and the balls in place.

Exactly 5 minutes later we had a stunning group of more than 70 kids, most of them around 13-14 years. We were happy to have Aldar waving at them before we started to play. First exhibition we lost 3-1, we knew that next time we should train more and had to ask Hungry Jack Daniels to show us some core stability exercises. In stead of korfball we were shown a good game of Aussie rule fast4 Korfball.

At the beginning, the kids came in looking very bored, but once we showed them our balls, they exploded. So much effort, skilled players, girls, boys, full of emotion and scoring potential. We all were amazed! They played one on one, two on two and four on four at the end. They really enjoyed it, even two teachers played like they were enjoying the korf fun more than we did!

At lunchtime we were absorbing the nice warm winter sun of Victoria. A proper coffee and a local Australian pie for our police officer.

Quickly back for our second clinic. Same enthousiastic bunch of kids, although quickly one of us male players lost a ball, we still enjoyed the clinic as much as the children did. In a multi-culti group we gained so much experience in Aussie rules that probably the main part of our players next season will excell in more sports than korfball alone. Teachers wanted us to give more info on the sport, Jess probably will be able to organise this school year a tournament on Fast4 Korfball, so a big hand for Melton today.

Returning to Taylors Hill with the pack, not able to relax, so after tabletennis (Crawling Casper vs Aldaar Aldar), short poolmatch between Jack Daniels and Edlose and a play of poker, we had a decent Dutch Australian meat wrapmeal from one of the best, probably the best, chef from Hardenberger!

Life is good Down Under, although some of us were laughing more like a farmer with toothake.

Day 2 - Bacchus March clinic

No jet leg today, just woke up early and counted the white spots on the ceiling. Funny to be in Australia and feel the cold around you. Flying parrots, Kakadu's and banana trees surrounding by Dutch clouds and Amsterdam korfball players. A tree, a corner, rose and fox. Almost not to compare with the names of Tsybyktarov and McNamara.

Well the Tuesday stood fir a visit at Bacchus Marsh. A small urban area approximately 25 km from Tailors hill, named after Englishman Captain William Henry Bacchus.

This area is full of orchards, apples, pears but also the region where various vegetables are grown and sold on the market.

We started our clinic this morning at the Bacchus March college. The first class consisted about approximate 22 kids, in the age of 13 years. They started to play a mixed game where most players showed there skills. A nice and fast learning group, really enjoying themselves. But not only the kids but also our group enjoyed the positive attitude we felt.

After we grab a small bite at the school canteen we met with the second group. Consisting of two classes with young adult individuas. Pretty much no korfball experience but a lot of netball players. Starting almost immediately with a practise match between Europe and Australia followed by a couple of small exercises. Within 30 minutes we managed to let them play korfball where they used space and time, scored multiple times through girls and boys and even outshooted some of the regular players here.

A lot of fun, many laughs and loads of enthousiastic kids. Would be great if we can do follow-ups and were witness today of a bright new start of korfball in Bachhus March.

Day 1 - Arrival in Melbourne

Na een hektisch week een goede binnenkomst op Schiphol waar Maarten, Rosanne, Casper en Patrick al 9 van de 15 korven hebben ingecheckt en door Erika Terpstra een hart onder de riem gestoken kregen: 'jullie zijn goed bezig'! Het Al wel, we zijn nog maar net wakker, een aantal metde nog zichtbare sporen van de 'night after the NKD before'. We hebben AKC Blauw Witte kampioenen aan boord..... Of toch niet. De eerste groep van vier gaat een uurtje eerder Abu Dhabi onveilig maken. Met een bont gezelschap van twee Vlamingen, een blik Friezen, een westlander en een halve Tsjech vliegen we boven het Iraanse Shiraz, een naam die we in Australie zeker nog gaan tegenkomen. 

De bakermat van onze beschaving, direct onder onze voeten.  Dezelfde voeten die over een aantal uren Down Under geraken. Voor een groot gedeelte van onze groep een regio die we kennen via via. Uit de media, van TV-series, uit films maar niet op kunnen rakelen uit ons eigen jeugdige geheugen.

Nog een uutrje en dan hebben we onze eerste tussenstop. Twee jaar geleden in Dubai contact met Van Nistelrooij en Novak Djokovic waardoor mijn eerste associatie van de staten uit de VAE altijd sport blijft. Wat zou het mooi zijn wanneer de kersverse Beach ambassaseur van het KNKV Barry zijn schep ooit eens in de woestijn van Abu Dhabi zou mogen plaatsen om een wedstrijd in deze regio te mogen organiseren..... Als je een robot op Mars kan laten rijden en Marten Luther de King of Dreams is, dan moet ke toch ook meerdere grensen kunnen verleggen om een kunstof korf op te laten in het hete zand. Voorlopig gaan we deze uitdaging nog niet aan. Met een ruim vol gele manden, een frisbee en een kaatsbalvliegt een vaderlandse Blauwe vogel naar het land waar Abel Tasman ooit om heen voer en het naar hem benoemde eiland tegen kwam. Hoe zou jaren geleden Adri Zwaanswijk de Australische Roy Kirby hebben ontmoet.      Zouden ze gedacht hebben dat anno 2013 vier Australiers in Wageningen zouden wonen om te kunnen korfballen. Dat op de dag voor ons vertrek een gewone Australische jongen bij een Nederlandse club een Tsjechische international met meerdere WK en EK korfbal medailles op snelheid en slimheid zou kloppen. Zou dat niet een heel mooi geschenk zijn, wanneer de huidige internatinals uit het U23 team van Australie grijs en oud zijn, kleurijke verhalen door kunnen geven aan hun kleinkinderen dat vroeger in korfbal het helemaal niet zo vanzelfsprekend was dat australie, Taiwan en Brazilie de grootste medaillekandidaten waren. Maar dat de eerste honderd jaar korfbal Nederland en Belgie de sport domineerden. Dat er zelfs Europeanen naar Australie kwamen om korfbal te helpen promiten. Niemand zou dat nog geloven, maar ja, dat was vroeger. En wij leven nu in het heden. Times changing. Lets change time!