Photo/Delivered.
Locally focused New Zealand sponsorship aims to get children back into sport.
Like so many Kiwis, Angela Transom and her husband Mark grew up enjoying sports like rugby, cricket, hockey and tennis. She passed this love on to her four children between the ages of 17 and 10.
“Mark and I both grew up watching sports in school,” says Angela of the couple, who co-own the Caltex gas station in Woodville – and who appreciate Caltex’s nationwide focus on promoting school sports that benefits local communities at large country is aligned.
“Sport is character building and has taught us skills like being part of a team, communicating, doing things for others and performing – because if you don’t do it, you let your team down.” It was important that our children had the same experience.”
Advertising
Advertise with NZME.
But Angela agrees there isn’t a level playing field for all Kiwi children – figures show some children are missing out on sporting opportunities due to the cost of living crisis. There are reports that increasing numbers of students are withdrawing from the sport because of the expense of uniforms, equipment and travel to and from practice and games.
This is the result of some tough years for children’s sport, which has not only been hit hard by Covid-19, but has also felt the pressure of an increasing number of students choosing to forego physical activity. Research from Sport NZ showed that in 2021-2022 the rate of meaningful participation in some school sport programs fell by up to 281 per cent.
Between 2018 and 2022, participation rates fell in 64 sports and increased in only 14; Participation in inter-school sports has declined, while national census data collected by School Sport NZ suggests the rate of students meaningfully participating in a school sports program has fallen from 56 per cent to 51 per cent.
According to Sport NZ, barriers to participation were particularly evident in low decile areas, high disadvantage and geographically isolated communities, while logistical barriers such as lack of transport and financial constraints also posed significant challenges.
The trend has had far-reaching implications for mental and physical health now and in the future, as habits formed in the teenage years carry over into adulthood. Essentially, inactive teenagers become inactive adults, Sport NZ concluded.
This is one of the main reasons Caltex is sponsoring the Secondary School National Championships in association with the New Zealand Sports Collective (NZSC) for the second year running. National Championship Secondary School events are held throughout the year and span over 30 different sports, with 370 secondary schools, 187,000 students competing in secondary school sports and 50,000 students competing in national championship events.
Angela and Mark, who run a cattle ranch in Manawatu, are committed to getting their two sons and two daughters to attend their basketball, rugby, tennis, netball and swimming practices and tournaments and say they do the same for others want children in their community.
That’s why they signed up their Woodville gas station to help sponsor the Secondary Schools National Championships: “We’re donating $1,000 in Caltex StarCash cards to our local high school, Tararua College, to help keep their three minivans and a car to support the students.” and events,” says Angela.
Advertising
Advertise with NZME.
Due to the rural location, the approximately 400 students at the university have to cover a wide area in order to be able to take part in sporting events.
“They go to Masterton, Dannevirke and Palmerston North so the gift cards really come in handy there. If a coach has to take their own car to an event, that helps with gas. We help the adults to help the children.”
Angela knows that the StarCash cards are also used by Tararua College to shuttle students in the Kapa Haka group to and from cultural events and festivals.
“It is really important for us to support the local school and community. Getting children involved in sports is crucial to help them grow and strengthen. I have seen from my own experience and the experience of my children that this gives people a sense of belonging and accomplishment.”
Angela saw this in action at the Caltex-sponsored NZ Secondary Schools Cross Country event recently: “To see teenagers out there doing their best to do their best in their chosen sport whilst also cheering and supporting others , It’s so great to see this and to be a part of it. As a parent, I know that keeping kids tech-free and moving can only be a good thing.”
Angela has a background in sales and has been a wine company representative for a decade. Eight years ago she started a direct selling business from home selling personal and home care items. But a year ago, when a high school friend who owned the Caltex-Woodville franchise asked the transoms if they wanted to buy into the company, they jumped at the chance.
“We had no forecourt experience, but with almost 20 years of sales experience we thought why not? Having grown up in a small town in New Zealand, we know the value and importance of a company like this in a small community.”
Ironically, the gas station is the same one Angela has had a connection with since childhood. “Every day dad would drive home from work and stop by here to buy a bar of chocolate. Now I am a partner and I run the shop.”
Her commitment to the local community goes beyond sport. Angela also employs two local students at Caltex Woodville for after-school and weekend shifts: “We’ve taught them barista skills, cylinder handling and in-store customer service skills, they’re an integral part of our team.”
For more information on how Caltex and its network of local retailers are supporting schools across New Zealand: caltex.co.nz/fuellingsports
Comments are closed.