Student Retreat!!

Conversations on Tap

Krav Maga Update

This week's classes (19 & 22 October)

This week on Tuesday at 2:30pm we'll cover defenses against bear hugs.
On Friday at 5:30pm, we'll cover some striking techniques.

Have a great week and be safe!

Matthew Ogilvie

Volunteers needed!

Women's Basketball on the Rise

By Natasha Prokop

Notre Dame’s Australian University Games women’s basketball team has finally seen the boost in numbers necessary for them to play at their best and are looking for future recruits to improve the team.

Team captain Alana Hampel said that in the past, having so few players and no room for substitutions “did test us”

 “It was definitely tough...our first half was good but not so good in the second and we were playing two games a day” said team member Nicole Roberts.

This year the girls had several new additions to the team, mostly first year students, with 9 players overall. Nicole spoke of the benefits of having more players, saying “it’s helped with being able to play the whole game one hundred percent”

Alana said that division 2 women’s basketball is “highly competitive for medals”. The girls placed 8^th overall out of 13 teams.

Alana said that the spike in participation was due to “the fact that it’s (AUG) in Perth and way cheaper”. The 2010 games being held in Perth made people “more aware of the games” said Nicole and she hoped that awareness would translate into more recruits for next year.

Of their strategy for next year Nicole said “we would try and recruit some more skilful players and get some training together”, with hopes of being “on a similar par with Curtin and ECU” and eventually being “on par with the WA, South Australia and Victorian teams”

The team “expect to get quite a few more girls next year” said Alana.

The 2011 Australian University Games, which will be held on the Gold Coast, has an amazing social events program say the girls, which they hope will entice others to join the team next year.

Martha Baker, a first year player said of the experience of the games, “it was so much fun... I have made so many friends” both within the basketball and Notre Dame teams and from other universities. She said she was made to feel welcome as a newcomer to the team and that the girls “all dressed up together, as a team” for the social events of the games.

Athlete Profiles

Profiles written by Katrina Woodhouse  

Andrew Emsavana:

Andrew competed for Notre Dame University in the 2010 Australian University Games, coming 2^nd in the 200m and 6^th in the 100m. After starting out by just running recreationally, Andrew rose quickly when picked out by Russell Mathanda, his coach for three years. Andrew trains 6 times a week, mainly in the afternoons followed by gym sessions which he finds to be quite exhausting. However his training is fulfilling, especially if Andrew achieves his goals of competing in the London Olympics of 2012, and the World Championships. Congratulations to Andrew on his success and all the best to him for a bright future.

Ben Armstrong:

The Decathlon of the 2010 Australian University Games went for over two days, consisting of ten events altogether. Ben Armstrong signed up for the event looking for a new athletic challenge and began his training only three months prior to the Games. Although he stopped competing in athletics eight years ago, and had to learn how to pole vault during those three months of training, Ben came an outstanding 5^th all up in the Decathlon event. Up against state and national competitors, Ben came an equal first in the high jump and second in the 1500m. Congratulations to Ben on his efforts, and we wish him all the best in future pursuits.

Krav Maga Update

Last Friday was a great class in which we reviewed some basic striking techniques and some ground work.
I'd like all Krav Maga students to focus on using your hips when punching. Also, not to pull a punch back -- go fast and forward -- lest your opponent see you "loading up" and hit first.

For this week:
On Tuesday 12 October we will continue with some ground fighting work.
On Friday 15th we will focus on striking (straight punches, hooks and uppercuts). If time permits we may do some more "interesting" ground work.

Be safe!

Matthew Ogilvie

New Men's Hockey Team Takes the Bronze

By Natasha Prokop

Notre Dame’s division 2 Men’s Hockey team won their final game against Deakin University 7-1 to claim the bronze medal at the Australian University Games.

“Getting a medal is absolutely awesome... but it was a bit unlucky to not do better” said team captain Jason Tate.

“We very easily could have won our semi-final and could have been playing in the finals, where anything could have happened” said fellow team member David Orr.

Jason said their success was due mainly to the efforts of “a few key players” and that of the “few people who haven’t played before” who he says “have really stepped up to the mark”

“We have a pretty new team” said Jason and with it came challenges for the team, which David said were overcome with “how we positioned the better players, so they could help out where needed... everyone worked together”

The team “had one warm-up match” said Jason in preparation for the games against Murdoch University, who they defeated.

When the team met Murdoch in the games they defeated them 7-0 and secured “a couple of big wins” said Jason including 5-0, 6-0 and 8-0 victories.

The team only suffered two losses in the whole competition, with a narrow 3-4 loss to Sydney University in the semi-finals in which the score was “3 all up to 30 seconds to go” when Sydney scored to secure the game said Jason. 

The other 3-2 loss to the University of NSW came when the team was two players down due to injury. David said “it would have been an interesting game” had the whole team been able to play.

Jason is hopeful that Notre Dame will be able to put together a strong team, containing some skilful players to take to the Gold Coast next year, with hopes of making it to the grand final match.

Notre Dame Wins Doug Ellis Trophy

The University of Notre Dame Australia has won the Doug Ellis trophy, to cap a remarkable week at the Australian University Games.

The Doug Ellis trophy is awarded to the best performing university, on a per capita basis of total student population of each university. Overall, Notre Dame finished 18^th out of the 39 competing universities. When student populations were factored into the results, Notre Dame came out on top, winning comfortably for the first time in the University’s history.

It’s definitely not the size of the dog in the fight, it’s the size of the fight in the dog!

Notre Dame had a total of 120 students competing at the Games, more than any other year. There were 112 students from the Fremantle Campus, and 9 from the Sydney Campus. Not only were the numbers impressive, but the results were even better.

Our men’s volleyball team fought out an epic final, to be pipped by UWA in the fifth and final set, to finish with the silver medal. Our men’s hockey team won a bronze medal, demolishing Deakin University 7-1 in the bronze medal match. Our men’s tennis team won their bronze medal playoff match to take home a medal, after winning three rubbers to nil.

Other teams to impress include mixed touch (fifth), mixed beach volleyball (fifth), rugby 7’s (sixth), lawn bowls (sixth) and mixed netball (seventh).

Our individual athletes also impressed throughout the week, with two silver medals on the track, a bronze in the sailing, and impressive results in the swimming and golf, with numerous personal bests across the sports.

Congratulations to all students that competed. Without the contribution of everyone, we would never have taken home the silverware, and made the 2010 Australian University Games one to remember.

The 2011 Australian University Games are on the Gold Coast, so start saving and let’s make it back to back with the Doug Ellis Trophy!!!

For the final standings, and all the results, please visit http://www.unisport.com.au/Events/Results/Pages/2010AUGResults.aspx and click on the links.

Conversations on Tap

FREE COFFEE!!!!

Anti-Poverty Week

 

Breast Cancer Fundraiser Dance!

PAANDA Play

retreat opportunity

Mary MacKillop - Australia's First Saint

The Annual Communications and Media Screening

Volunteer Opportunity

Krav Maga

Welcome back to the last four weeks of semester!
This Tuesday, Oct 5 (12:30pm class) will focus on kicks and knees.
This Friday, Oct 8, we'll work on some striking techniques.
At both classes we'll also do some stress drills to help get us "fight fit."

Be safe!

Matthew Ogilvie

Twilight Series : UNDA Staff and Student Sports Day

On 10 September (Friday), the Student Life Office held its first annual Staff and Student Sports Day. Everyone got together to play some non-traditional sports in the hope of becoming the Twilight Series Champions - sports such as rotten egg throwing, soccer, Frisbee golf and a relay challenge.

In the end, the team from the School of Health Science ('Fleur's Disciples') took home the winner's trophy. And the wooden spoon award went to a team made up of Nursing students ('Nursing Ninjas'). And the Prospective Students team took home the best team name - 'Long-eared Desert Mongolian Hedgehog'.

All credit and thanks to Jaimee Montgomery, our sport officer for all her hard work in making it a fantastic and successful event! And to all the participating teams, well done! We will see you next year!

Krav Maga Update

Welcome back to the last four weeks of semester!
This Tuesday, Sept 5 (12:30pm class) we will focus on kicks and knees.
This Friday, Sept 8th, we will work on some striking techniques.
At both classes we will also do some stress drills to help get us "fight fit."

Be safe!

Matthew Ogilvie