Friends of Noa Jessop are honouring the life of the talented footballer by building a field in his memory.
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“When Noa died it was very sad, and because he loved footy so much we called one of the fields Noa’s Flat,” school captain and Noa’s football teammate Sam Griffin said.
“We are also putting in a bench, so if you’re thinking of him you can go and sit there.”
The 10-year-old St Patrick’s Catholic Primary School pupil was tragically killed last year when he was struck by a vehicle after getting off off his school bus near Cobargo.
Bega MP Andrew Constance visited the school on Monday morning to announce the government was providing $4500 for the construction of football posts, making sure the project is completed as soon as possible.
“I think it’s really important that as a school community everyone rallies together, because it’s something very special,” Mr Constance said.
During assembly he read the pupils a letter to his office from NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian.
“I feel terribly sorry to hear about the tragic loss of Noa to your community,” he read.
“The youth goal posts are a wonderful tribute to Noa as a young, fun-loving, sports enthusiast.”
Sam and school vice-captain Brendan Cooper were the same age as Noa, and came up with the idea at a school meeting.
“We’d always play tag footy at school, and Noa was always the fastest,” Sam said.
The school’s principal Jo Scott-Pegum said the pupils had organised their own fundraising through a raffle, and had called around for quotes on the football posts.
She said the government’s funding came as a surprise to everyone.
“It’s a little miracle for them,” she said.
“We’re hoping to have everything installed before the next school holidays so it is ready for term three.”