Port Adelaide recruit Jack Hombsch returned to his home town of Roxby Downs this week, taking the Power Community Youth Program to his former schools.
The 20-year-old defender lived in Roxby Downs right up until he was drafted by Greater Western Sydney as a 17-year-old, at the end of 2011.
The tall defender made his AFL debut in the Giants’ inaugural game in the opening round of 2012, before being secured by Port Adelaide through a trade at the end of the season.
Hombsch was excited to return to Roxby Downs, where he underwent most of his schooling and where his football career began.
“I spent most of my life there so it t was really good to go back,” Hombsch said.
“It brought back a lot of memories of some really fun times at school and at the local footy oval.
“It was great to see some of the people who helped me with my football development as well as my education. They’re really important people to me and it was good to catch up with them again.”
Hombsch returned to Roxby downs – 560km north of Adelaide – on Tuesday 12 April, along with team-mate Tom Jonas and fellow Power Community Youth Program ambassadors, netballer Mel Rowland, footballer Lisa Kennedy and program manager Russell Ebert.
The group visited Hombsch’s primary School - St Barbara’s Parish School - and Roxby Downs Area School, where he started his secondary education before completing it at boarding school in Adelaide. They also spoke with young footballers at Roxby Downs oval, where Hombsch played junior ompetition with the Bulldogs.
The program involves AFL footballers and female athletes speaking with school students around the State to promote government-funded campaigns such as ‘Be Active’, ‘Go for 2 & 5’ and ‘Smarter than Smoking’ while encouraging young people to make good choices and live healthily.
BHP Billiton – which operates the Olympic Dam mine near Roxby Downs, and for whom Hombsch’s father has worked for more than 20 years – is proud to sponsor the Power Community Youth Program.
Andrew Barnfield - BHP Billiton Olympic Dam head of health, safety, environment and community - said it was great to see students interacting with the program and learning the importance of a healthy lifestyle.
“As a company, we’re proud to support programs like Power Community Youth that encourage students to be proactive about living healthily,” Mr Barnfield said.
“It’s great to see Jack Hombsch, one of Roxby Downs’ sporting success stories, returning to share these important messages with the community.”
BHP Billiton Olympic Dam has supported the Power Community Youth Program since 2008 and Power Community Ltd General Manager Darren Adamson said the continued support of the organisation has ensured these positive messages continue to reach children across the State.
“BHP Billiton has demonstrated that it supports and shares the values that the Power Community Youth Program promotes in our classrooms,” Mr Adamson said.
“Through its support, we are able to deliver on our shared commitment to making sure those messages of happy, healthy lives are heard by as many students as possible wherever they are in South Australia.”
Each year, the program visits over 100 schools and 30,000 students across South Australia.
Hombsch said he was proud to be involved with the Power Community Youth Program, having been exposed to the club’s positive lifestyle messages when the Power squad visited Roxby Downs when he was in primary school.
“I remember when I was in year six in primary school, Port Adelaide came up and spent some time in town.
“It was just the best thing and it got everyone excited because it wasn’t normal to see AFL footballers in Roxby.
“To go back as a Port Adelaide player myself was really cool, and it was great to make a bit of a contribution to the students there today.”
