Former West Coast Eagles premiership player and three-time All-Australian, Josh Kennedy has welcomed the chance to head north in regional WA and meet some of the state’s rising football stars in his new role as a Horizon Power ambassador.
Kennedy, who retired last year after a stellar AFL career spanning 17 years, met with up-and-coming footballers aged 13 to 16, at the Kimberley Spirit training session in Broome recently.
The Kimberley Spirit Program is a part of Garnduwa’s Active Leaders Program and is the recognised football talent pathway for young aspiring footballers from the Kimberley region, feeding into the West Australian Football Commission Talent & Development Programs.
Kennedy also visited Beagle Bay on the Dampier Peninsula, running footy drills and speaking to students from Sacred Heart School, as part of Garnduwa’s Active Leaders Program.
Kennedy relished the opportunity to meet with the young footballers and share insights into his journey from a teenager into an AFL footballer and how he achieved his goals along the way.
“Through my time playing professional football with the Eagles, I was fortunate enough to be able to engage with so many young footballers in remote communities and being able to continue to do this through Horizon Power here and beyond is awesome,” he explained.
“The joy and inspiration these programs and footy clinics give to the youth and wider community is nourishing for me, and being able to play a role in that is something I never take for granted.
“Growing up in and having plenty of mates and family in regional communities – I know first-hand they can often be overlooked in so many areas. It’s one of the main reasons I decided to partner with Horizon Power – because they are driven and committed to investing in important infrastructure, utilities, services and engagement within regional communities.”
Michael Albert, Chief Executive Officer of Garnduwa, said the organisation always welcomed the chance to work with role models and for their young aspiring footballers to hear how through their hard work they achieved their goals.
“Josh Kennedy is a favourite in the Kimberley and throughout the regions, so to have him here interacting with the kids is a fantastic opportunity.”
Krystal Skinner, Horizon Power’s Executive General Manager, Customer & Community, said she was delighted Kennedy had joined the Horizon Power family as a brand ambassador and young footballers in the Kimberley had the opportunity to spend time with the sports star.
“Josh Kennedy is a positive role model, known for his dedication and team spirit. He also lives regionally with a strong connection with the communities, which really aligns with our focus on supporting and giving back to our remote and regional WA communities.”
About Horizon Power
As Western Australia’s regional energy provider, Horizon Power is committed to delivering sustainable, innovative, and affordable energy solutions to regional and remote communities across the state.
As Western Australia’s only vertically integrated electricity utility, Horizon Power operates across the full energy supply chain: generation, transmission, distribution, and retail services.
Our service area is the largest geographical catchment of any Australian energy provider. We manage the North West Interconnected System (NWIS) in the Pilbara; the connected network covering three interconnected systems in Kununurra, Wyndham and Lake Argyle; and 34 microgrids tailored to meet the unique needs of some of the most isolated and remote communities in the world.
We are playing a pivotal role in the energy industry as we explore new and innovative ways to develop our renewable energy capability. We are applying the knowledge gained through our ground-breaking trials, with significant investment toward deployment and providing our customers with more sustainable, affordable power and tailored solutions for their energy future.
For more information visit www.horizonpower.com.au
