THE ROUND BALL BECOMES UNITED!

The Round Ball Community Football Development Program pulled of a major coup recently in luring the Founder and Executive Director of Football United, Anne Bunde-Birouste to Mount Gambier. Scott Dickson, CEO of the Mount Gambier based football program, The Round Ball was delighted with the opportunity to discuss football with Bunde-Birouste, whom Dickson describes as a role model and inspiration. "Anne is the founder of Football United and the Convener of the Health Promotion Program at the UNSW Graduate School of Public Health and Community Medicine. She is active internationally on a number of boards and scientific advisory committees in this capacity, as well as with Street Football World as Director of Football United." Dickson was full of praise for the American born Bunde-Birouste and her award winning Football United program which she founded in 2006. The program is is on the verge of spreading around Australia and The Round Ball is keen to be a part of it. Football United has signed up with Football Australia's national development plan and Bunde-Birouste is keen to now join forces with Dickson's Round Ball program to include indigenous projects and bridge communities across the Limestone Coast. "Football United is a leading organisation that uses football for social development." Dickson added, "We have tried locally to have a strong moral purpose and support areas that need development like running a program for Aboriginal children supported by the FFA and assisting in the establishment of a Regional Development Squad for girls several years ago with the support of the South East Womens Football Association. Currently we are providing football programs via the Active After Schools Communities program at both North Gambier Primary School and McDonald Park School as well as assisting several disadvantaged migrant players to take part in local development programs." Bunde-Birouste is well aware of the benefits that football can have to a community, "It is important to understand why football is seen as a tool that can be used to better society. Research suggests that participation in sport can be crucial in the development of young people. Health and fitness, through the pursuit of physical activity, is widely regarded as a key factor in personal development and many of the skills that are fundamental in sports participation, particularly in team sports, are transferable in wider aspects of life. Sport encourages strong community bonds, regular physical activity and access to positive mentors for young people. In disadvantaged communities these features are essential to social development." "I am looking forward to catching up with Scott and The Round Ball team and seeing how we can support one another to try and do something special in this part of the world," added Bunde-Birouste. While in Mount Gambier Bunde-Birouste met with members of the Western Border Soccer Association, the South East Womens Football Association, The Mount Gambier City Council, representatives from the New Arrivals program at North Gambier Primary School, and staff from several local primary and secondary schools.