Archive | June 9, 2023

Backyard Footy

Backyard Footy

Backyard Footy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Backyard Footy

Carl Merrison

Samantha Campbell

Hachette, 2023

32pp., hbk., RRP $A19.99

9780734421517 

Sometimes accidents can lead to the most amazing consequences.  In the spacious backyard of his home in the Kimberly, Jy accidentally kicks his football over the fence into Kitara’s yard, setting off an adventure that gathers momentum, kids, football skills and friendships that culminates in a lot of fun on the local football oval. 

From the team that gave us My Deadly Boots, this is  another joyful celebration of how something as common and as everyday as kicking a footy in your back yard can bring people together just for the sheer enjoyment of being together and sharing knowledge and skills .  Because while kick-to-kick is fun, going for goal is better…

Even though Australian Rules is the focus, because that is what is played in that part of Australia, and the author says the story was “inspired by my lived experiences-without phones, PlayStations, the internet, social media.”, nevertheless it highlights the joy that kids get from playing any team sport as it brings them together, everything else forgotten,  as they work towards a common goal.  (pun intended). As the author says in this interview, “It was like what me and my mates did when we were younger. I had the young kids of Halls Creek in mind when writing this book, so they could see themselves in it and know their pathways too.” But really, it could be a story for any kid in the world, regardless of nationality or sport.  All you need is some space, and to me, that is the most unifying message of all. Race, religion and all that other stuff has little to do with the natural instincts of the child to play, to have fun and friends and to belong.