Former Karratha youngster on footy boots donation drive
One young former Karratha resident is on a mission to help other sporty kids like him and is collecting football boots to be donated to children in remote Pilbara communities.
Ten-year-old Crix Johnston, who moved to Perth with his family last year, had three pairs of boots at home and didn’t know what to do with the spares.
“I just thought ‘what’s the point of putting them in the bin when you can give them to someone else that maybe can’t afford their own?’,” he said.
“Hopefully, it means that all the kids up in the Pilbara will have the right footy gear to play in.”
Crix started off with one donation box at his local football club in Perth, but as word spread, his mum, Jade-Ellen Beattie, has been driving around the suburbs collecting boots from anyone who has a pair to donate, and they’re already up to over 50.
“We’re just really proud of him,” she said.
“The whole thing was his idea and it’s really boosted his confidence because he’s organised all of it himself, including setting up the donation box at Applecross Junior Football Club.”
The family has been in touch with West Australian Football Commission Pilbara regional manager Vicki Agnew, who will co-ordinate the delivery of the boots once the collection has finished.
“Next time I head out to community I’ll take them with me,” she said.
“Whether that be Martu communities in the Western Desert, or perhaps a group of kids in Roebourne or Newman that need them for their local competition or a carnival, will just depend.
“It’s fantastic idea full stop, but for him to be thinking about the broader community playing on red dirt without shoes at 10 years of age, we should be expecting big things from him in the future.”
Crix has been a footy fan since he was little and grew up watching his dad and uncle play for the Karratha Kats.
Appropriately, the club has a box available for donations at the Millars Well Oval clubrooms, with the public able to drop boots off on Mondays and Wednesdays between 5pm and 7pm.
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