Double Delight for Bunbury Catholic College as Country Week ReturnsThursday, September 8, 2022 - 9:24 AM - by Mark Readings

Bunbury Catholic College has enjoyed dual success at the School Sport WA’s Senior High Schools’ Country Week. 

More than 3,000 students from 46 competing schools took part in the event from Monday the 29th of August until Friday September 2. 

The event made its return to Perth after a three-year hiatus because of the pandemic. 

Supported by the West Australian Football Commission, the boys and girls AFL competitions returned with a high level of skill and competitiveness. 

The Senior Schoolboys Cup-Walker Division was won by Bunbury Catholic College. 

After scores were level at half time, Bunbury Catholic College ran out 28-point winners over WA College of Agriculture-Narrogin 8.6(54) to 4.2(26). 

Player of the Carnival in the Boys A Division was Baiden Parsons from Bunbury Catholic College. 

The Walker Division is named after WA football legend Billy Walker, who grew up in the Wheatbelt town of Narembeen. 

West Coast Eagles Premiership player Karl Langdon, who was at the game, presented the trophy to the triumphant Bunbury team. 

Boys B Division was won by Australind Senior High School and WA College of Agriculture-Harvey claimed Boys C Division. 

The Freo Dockers Cup-Vanderweide Division (Girls Division) is named after Catherine Vanderweide, the first female President of a football league in Australia, the GNFL. 

She is also the first female to be awarded life membership of the WACFL.

In a thrilling Grand Final, Bunbury Catholic College made it two from two, defeating Bunbury Senior High School by one point 3.2(20) to 3.1(19).

Player of the Carnival in the Girls Division (the Danielle Fagents Medal) was awarded to Riley Fisher from Bunbury Senior High School.

AFLW Fremantle Dockers players Mim Strom (Exmouth) and Dana East (Manjimup) were also on hand to present the medals to both teams from the Freo Dockers Cup – Vanderweide Division Grand Final.

Daniel Ullyett received the Medal for his performance during the week.

In a strong representation of the regions, the Boys Divisions consisted of 15 schools, while players from the Girls Division came from 7 schools.

Country Week has been running since 1924, with boys’ AFL the only sport run every year from 1924 to 1952, when hockey entered as the second sport.?

This year 9 sports were part of Senior High Schools’ Country Week.

Schools Specialist at the West Australian Football Commission Regan Atkinson was delighted to see the return of the event after two years disrupted by COVID.

“It’s been fantastic to see Country Week return to the calendar in 2022.

Full credit to School Sport WA for pushing it back to a later time slot this year, to enable as many schools as possible and students the opportunity to participate after missing out in 2020 and 2021.

Well done to Bunbury Catholic College on completing the double, winning both the Boys A Division and Girls Division.

We look forward to supporting Country Week again next year,” Atkinson said.