Remote medical diagnoses, online education and working from home are all potentials of a high-speed National Broadband Network (NBN)-connected world, but it was State of Origin sentiments being Skyped across the country last week when Wallangarra State School footy fans came face-to-digitised-face with a couple of their State of Origin heroes.
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Given its standing as a country school ideally situated on the border of NSW and Queensland, Wallangarra was picked to showcase the possibilities of using the NBN to bring virtual sport training to remote locations.
Much of Wallangarra/ Jennings has had access to wireless NBN for nearly two years, and school principal Scott Koch said students and staff had enjoyed faster internet access since the school was connected.
Connecting into the school’s network proved difficult for the crew setting up the virtual training session, however, with Education Queensland’s net-work firewall proving impenetrable. The situation was resolved with a quick relocation to an NBN-enabled private home (at least as quick as a semitrailer carrying a huge screen, followed by a second truck carrying a power generator can be).
Once the system was up and running State of Origin legends Wally Lewis and Brad Fittler appeared much larger than life in front of the students, live from Sydney’s ANZ Stadium for a 40-minute very interactive training session with a series of warm-ups, drills and plays on the field.
Although the training session including dodging two camera crews (“four points for getting the cameraman”, Fittler encouraged), Mr Koch said it had all been a great experience.
“It’s really good to tap into professional experts like Wally and Brad,” he said, “bringing personalities like that to regional areas to gain knowledge and skills.”
Mr Koch said it was also good for the students to see all the behind-the-scenes activity that not only made the big screen connection possible but documented it for posterity.
Needless to say there was an ongoing banter throughout the session on who would win the State of Origin, with students, teachers and celebrities split on the result. The first of the three clashes happens tonight in Sydney.
“Australia is a nation of sports lovers and State of Origin is all about getting behind your state to cheer on your favourite team,” Brad Fittler said.
“The NBN coaching clinic was a great way of getting country kids closer to the action and having some fun ahead of the first game in the series.
“Whether they are learning sporting techniques via YouTube or an athlete looking to use technology to train online, faster internet is allowing Aussies all over the country greater access to training tools, and encouraging them to be more active participants in sport.”
Wally Lewis conceded that communication technologies have moved on since his playing days.
“The last time I played in a State of Origin final was in 1991, years before the invention of smart phones and tablets,” he said.
“The NBN coaching clinic is a great example of how faster internet is enabling Aussies no matter where they live to harness the latest technology to get closer to the sports they love."