Reward for a good sport

By Bridget Brady
IT’S a sporting life for Marilyn Kinchington.
The Lyndhurst Secondary College physical education teacher has been recognised for more than 10 years of service to sport in schools, receiving a Victorian Secondary Schools’ Sports Association award last week.
Principal Warren Wills dobbed in his sports co-ordinator for the accolade.
“It was a pleasant surprise to be acknowledged because I’ve been sports co-ordinator here for a long time and it’s nice to be recognised for what I put in,” Ms Kinchington said.
She still plays softball regularly, taking part in masters tournaments, and said sport benefited students in many ways.
“It’s that healthy lifestyle, building self-esteem and self-discipline,” she said.
Ms Kinchington said it was rewarding to see students excel at state levels, but also to see the more reluctant students getting involved.
“It’s nice just to have kids that have never had a go at anything before play a game and learn about a sport,” she said.
While the job as sports co-ordinator could be hectic, Ms Kinchington said teachers gained a different sort of rapport with students during sport.