Geraldton’s inaugural Batavia Cup a hit with students unable to attend cancelled country week

Faced with classrooms full of devastated students unable to attend country week in Perth, Geraldton schools this week pulled together to ensure months of training did not go to waste.

The Department of Education on Sunday scrapped the annual country week sporting carnival after the State Government announced a snap lockdown for the Perth and Peel regions because of COVID-19.

Instead, Champion Bay Senior High School, Geraldton Christian College, Geraldton Grammar School and Geraldton Senior High School hosted a crisis meeting to organise the inaugural Batavia Cup as an alternative.

Held at Geraldton Christian College yesterday, the interschool competition saw students battle it out on the basketball and netball courts, work out who was boss at the volleyball nets, and compete for bragging rights on the touch rugby field.

At the end of the day, Geraldton Senior High School walked away with the coveted cup.

Geraldton Christian College Year 12 student Emma Lindsay, 18, said her heart broke when she heard country week had been cancelled.

“It was really devastating and quite disappointing because you train all year and you work really hard,” she said.

Student Ezekiel Fabello, 17, was also disappointed by the news, but appreciated the effort by local schools to ensure the teams could still put their skills to the test.

“I am quite happy that the school and teachers managed to create this event and we were able to make up for not going to country week,” he said.

Emma said it was great to see all the schools getting involved for a good cause.

“We have never been in a huge mix with the other schools like this ... it is nice to just have the Gero crew and get to know the schools in our town,” she said.