Issue 121 Years 5-6 It’s It’s I started reading it, and to and to I started it, reading over a decade, not being able to compete compete not being able to a decade, over blow. a debilitating was she says. 4-3,” only just lost in a drop-off “We it happen when and watch sit there “But to and knowing be out there to you want you on my wish that I wouldn’t contribute? could ever. feeling the worst – it’s enemy worst and wanting in and out of depression “I was But then I the world. I hated go home. to book Armstrong about the Lance heard the Bike. About Not injury made my he has overcome see what It really was look like nothing in comparison. me.” for inspirational of missing the All With the frustration plenty of motivation, providing Nations in the Bo back on the field playing was weeks with the Barbarians Nationals just five on her knee. operation after the second the for hard work off when you “It pays really back because they’veteam got your really she says. need them the most,” when you happened with the Barbarians what “That’s the Nationals. at “My knee after pretty bad and swelling was but the girls on either side of every game, my back the whole time me on the field had more.” ask for couldn’t – you grow. to the game continues passion for Bo’s in with the Barbarians, as success well As club side 2006 Bo also helped her Final. the Grand Suburbs into Western it know, “You she says. more,” it even “I love kills me when I see people disrespect the the the game at watch if you I mean, game. amazing. it’s level top is the open team “The women’s Australia sporting women’s Australia most successful on media and so come in the world, team lost never We’ve us a break! give sponsors, we’ve lost a series, never we’ve Cup, World a Australia lost one game since only ever starting in !” representing the of leaving Bo has no intention 26, Now set firmly has her sights She game just yet. in Scotland. Cup World on the 2011 and I feel feel, only as old you “You’re granted for take life “I don’t she says. great,” start get older you and as you to more, any from coming people are understand where of your take to advantage you tell when they opportunities. as a person way in that matured “I think I’ve and still being the only and as an athlete, team Indigenous person in the Australian people which my makes model for me a role is very important me.” to team with their hard-earned trophy. Sweet victory:The Australian Women’s “I’ve lost a lot more weight, and being lighter beinglighter and weight, more lot a lost “I’ve get older you’ve you As does help,. really makegot to the most of every you’ve year the doing at I’m what and that’s got left, moment. I took younger “I think when I was I don’t I thought, much. of it too advantage got natural fit because I’ve be that need to take things begin to a but eventually ability, body.” on your toll price a heavy came at realisation that Bo, For In one of the most inopportuneat times. she was before weeks just two 2005, late to squad Australian fly out with the due to in tournament Nations in the All compete a serious in jury she suffered Zealand, New Western her right kneeto for while playing Suburbs. not “And Bo admits. “That tough,” really was the time me at family around my having carry.” load to hard made it a really Bo made the play, unable to she was While to supporttrip to forced and was the team the sidelines as Australians from watch For a person who match. lost their first-ever for football touch and breathed had lived actually expecting. It makes really you actually expecting. in Australia.” live to grateful feel Coming up against their arch rivals New New rivals up against their arch Coming Zealand in the Grand Final, the Australians the Australians Final, in the Grand Zealand exacted sweet revenge for their first-ever their first-ever for revenge exacted sweet

defeat, which came at the hands of which came at defeat,

Kiwis in last year’s All Nations tournament. tournament. Nations All Kiwis in last year’s gave we last year Nations the All “I think at the Kiwis came out a bit of sniff and they in the All play “I didn’t she says. cocky,” quite but we knee because of my Nations injury, I year. for them this ready fit and really were Final, them 9-3 in the Grand beat we mean, because a lot of the and again I think that’s their last shot and it was retiring, girls were got stuck really so we getting them back, at them.” into the spectacularSince start her to Bo has learned some career, international the address caused her to This lessons. hard prepared and approached she which in ways and mentally. both physically the game, for getting a lot I’m getting older, I’m “Although work to having because I’m but that’s fitter, she says. as I used to,” as hard twice

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She’s a two-time word champion and one of the world’s elite touch football players. Deadly Vibe up with Bo de la Cruz to talk football, life and respect. I to newcomer a 22-year-old Back in 2002, team football touch women’s the Australian named Bo blew the international de la Cruz and with her pace away competition in Japan. Cup World playmaking skills the at she had been By the end of tournament, Player. Valuable named Most Skip 2007 and Bo off to forward was to this Cup, World her second South for Africa player. and mature experienced time a more in South capped a Africa Her appearance and while Japan was years; tumultuous four South was Africa all about the experience, herself. about proving not the same I’m that “Some people say “But then I Bo says. be,” I use to that player game a lot changed my I’ve people say have because of it. better I’m and that the but at take know to that, how “I didn’t and really I just got stuck in there Cup World everybody wrong.” prove to wanted Bo left behind family and Japan, After friends in Darwin further to her footballing excel on to went She in Sydney. aspirations as as well competition in both the Sydney tournaments national top the country’s a career-threatening suffering before World recent Australia’s Bo, So for injury. victoryChampionship a in South was Africa what for and just reward major achievement her spectacular since she has overcome stage. debut on the international winning that into just so zoned were “We Bo says. nothing else mattered,” game that – no-one on the same level was “Everyone everyone legs, no-one had sore tired, was was I think a lot of that just so focused. was played because a lot of the girls who I’ve after retiring the a long time were with for as the fact as well we’re that tournament,

Issue 121 1 Years 5-6 Issue 121 Years 5-6

Activity 1: Preparation before reading Bo de la Cruz is the only Indigenous player in the Australian women’s touch football team. This report tells us about the influence she has had on the sport, particularly the World Cups held in Japan in 2002 and South Africa in 2007. Earlier this year, she was part of the Australian team which won the against New Zealand 9-3. Bo talks about the changes to her game as she has grown older – she is fitter and working very hard to stay competitive after a serious knee injury kept her out of the All Nations tournament in New Zealand in 2005. While recovering from this injury, she read professional road racing cyclist Lance Armstrong’s book It’s Not About the Bike and was inspired by the way he dramatically overcame cancer. Bo aims to compete in the 2011 World Cup in Scotland.

Read Top of the World on pages 12-13 1. According to this report, what year did Bo de la Cruz play touch football on an international level? ______2. Where was the match played? ______3. What award was given to Bo after that tournament? ______4. In which country was the 2007 World Cup held? ______5. Write two reasons that spurred Bo’s team on to win the World Cup in 2007. ______

Issue 121  Years 5-6 Issue 121 Years 5-6

Activity 3: More about Bo de la Cruz

Bo de la Cruz—Department of Human Services Indigenous Ambassador Bo de la Cruz is a Department of Human Services’ (DHS) Ambassador for Indigenous servicing. The Women’s Touch Football champion talks face-to- face with communities about how service delivery can be improved and tailored to better meet the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Bo, one of six children, was born and raised in Darwin but now lives in Sydney. Her mother was born in Yorkshire, England and her father is from Innisfail, north Queensland. He is both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander with a Spanish and Filipino background. Bo’s outstanding football career started at the age of 12 and milestones include travelling to Japan in 2003 where the Australian team won the Touch Football World Cup. Bo was the star of the tournament, winning Overall Female Player of the series and Most Valuable Player for Australia. 2003 was a busy year for this young achiever. She was named Northern Territory’s Sports Ambassador and Sports Young Achiever of the Year, was awarded Sportswoman of the Year at the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sports Awards as well as the National Aboriginal and Islander Day Observance Committee (NAIDOC) Sportsperson of the Year Award.

www.centrelink.gov.au/internet/internet.nsf/publications/ind084.htm

1. What is Bo’s role with the Department of Human Services? ______

2. Where was Bo born? ______

3. How old was Bo when she started her touch football career? ______

4. How do we know that Bo was the star of the 2003 Touch Football World Cup in Japan? ______

Issue 121  Years 5-6 Issue 121 Years 5-6

5. List 3 awards that Bo achieved in 2003. ______

6. Write two sentences below to explain why Bo de la Cruz is a good choice as Indigenous ambassador for DHS ______

Activity 4: Similars and opposites In the box can be found a word that has the same meaning and one that has an opposite meaning to each word in the list. You may need to use a dictionary to help.

For example: reckless - similar word = rash; opposite word = careful

courteous coarse cease ferocious enormous recollect

polite stop rough rude forget careful smooth cowardly minute brave remember commence huge rash

Issue 121  Years 5-6 Issue 121 Years 5-6

Activity 4: Word Game By moving from square to square in the grid, you will discover a word. You may move left, right, up, down, or diagonally. You must not jump any square.

six colours

______

______

______

B L E P I M A U N K V U E Y T E E L O A R D L W N

Issue 121  Years 5-6