Joseph Wins Gold As Newman Inspires Students

NSW Institute of Sport (NSWIS) scholarship holder Zoe Newman has shared her story of grit and determination to be selected as the goalkeeper for the Hockeyroos with 50 students from Palmers Island Public School as part of the Australian Olympic Committee’s Unleashed Program.

“If I fail it doesn’t matter,” she told a captive audience of 50 primary school students. “It doesn’t change me. I learn from this and move forward.”

Newman recounted participating in taekwondo, dancing and hockey during school, before focussing on hockey once she had left. She loved hockey and playing the sport allowed her to forget any stresses with school, her friends and family.

The 20-year-old was part of the gold medal winning team at the U21 nationals, but not long after wasn’t selected for the junior national team in 2018 or the three years that followed.

“I was devastated and furious as my coach at the time didn’t think I wanted it. But no matter what your hard times are, I want you to know you can get through it. Whatever you want to do, know your passion and get your support people behind you.”

The students, whose school was devastated by the Lismore floods, resonated with the presentation of Newman. They had travelled overnight to the NSW Institute of Sport to not only participate in the program but support one of their peers at the School Sport Australia National Swimming Championships.

The Year 6 student called Joseph, who has a Multi-Cat classification for Autism had qualified for the event in breaststroke and butterfly. Coming from a small school on northern rivers and lacking the confidence to compete, one of his teachers made a wayward promise that they would bring the whole school to watch him if he competed at nationals.

The deal worked, and Joseph progressed through to states where he won the gold medal in the 100m Butterfly and placed third in Breaststroke.

Newman summed up the journey by turning around the words which deflated her non selection to a positive phrase “I want it, let’s do it.”

Frances Cordaro NSWIS