Go Team, created by students at Cecil Hills High School, joins the Focus on Ability programme with a short film that explores themes of friendship, teamwork and inclusion. The film reflects on achievement, motivation and the ways we perceive one another, particularly within school life and sport. It invites viewers to consider skills, mateship and the viewpoints of teenagers with intellectual disability without prescribing a single answer. Presented in a clear, youthful voice, Go Team adds a student-led perspective to the festival’s celebration of ability, showing how small moments of support and understanding can reshape expectations and highlight real strengths.
Rugby is life. So, Mr. Brookfield, can you tell me about Lachlan Smith and his love for football? Okay, so Lachlan plays for Mounties on Sundays, comes to school on Mondays and for his weekend he talks about training and playing. Hi, my name is Lachlan Smith, I play for Mounties Triathlon and it's the best club of all. This is Ford, I work in the support unit at Sessom Hills High School. Lachy was born an EALS supporter, apparently Pop gave him a Parramatta EALS ball the day he was born, in hospital and he has cherished that since. They watch the games on TV, they go to the games, massive supporters, Parramatta EALS supporters. Lachy played footy when he was six but then dropped out, he started playing for Tri Time, Mounties Tri Time, which is a special needs team for teens and adults with disabilities. I knew Lachy at school because I've taught him since he was seven, but I saw Lachy at Tri Time because my son actually is in the team too, he's 14 and he has special needs and he plays alongside Lachy, they're great teammates. What's he like as a mentor to someone like Luke for example, who's also in the support unit? He's a great mentor, Luke loves to play footy so having Lachy there in the support unit and Mounties in the same club, he shows great leadership. What makes it fun? I get to play with my teammates and coaches. Now here's a Parramatta fan, who do you go for? I go for the New Zealand Warriors, so Lachy does like to rub it in when staff members, teams do lose to Parramatta EALS and it's great, the fans are great. Why do you love football? I just like the speed of it, the contact. His favourite team is the Parramatta EALS and his favourite player is Clint Gutherson. He also does a program at school called Heroes with Ability, so every Tuesday period 2 during PE, he does football and it's a program run, they come for free and they teach skills and do different drills, passing, kicking, running, all types of different things for football. What's he like as a player? He's a great player, he's a team player, he shows great leadership skills on the field. He's overall a great person, a great kid and a great friend, he's definitely just a great person. He loves passing the football, with myself, with Mr Ford, after school, before school, during recess and during lunch. He always tells me who's in and who's out for the games on the weekends and comes to school on Monday and talks about the games he's watched on the weekends. Which club are you a fan of? Parramatta. What do you like about Parramatta? I like the colour of it and the numbers on it. Any favourite player? Clint Gutherson. Say that again? Clint Gutherson, the King. If you could say one thing to your favourite player, what would it be? Play hard, try hard. He is one of the better players at the club, because like I said, he does show a lot of leadership out there and direction with the kids. Lachie is a great leader for my son, who doesn't know much about footy like Lachlan does. So he looks after him, Lachie takes him under his wing. It's great to have Lachie show so much confidence when he's on the field. Some other aspects of his life, he doesn't feel as confident, but with footy, he knows it all. He's so confident, he's great. So it's nice to see him shine in something he loves and something he's really good at. Follow your dreams, Lachie, and never give up. Best of luck and keep up the good work. Outer. Gael!
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Go Team by Cecil Hills High School (2023)
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Go Team
by Cecil Hills High School - SCHOOL DOCUMENTARIES
