World Footy News

Graeme Wilson is a highly qualified and experienced diplomat. He holds a Master of Arts degree in French from the University of Melbourne, and a Master of Arts degree in international relations from the University of Southern California. He speaks French, Spanish and Bislama. He also runs Auskick in the Solomon Islands.

Graeme “the kid” Wilson played 14 games back between 1974 and 1976 at South Melbourne in the then VFL. He’d been recruited from Uni Blues in the VAFA.

Since his football days, Wilson has had a distinguished career in the diplomatic corps that has included a stint as Australian ambassador to Mexico and postings in exotic locations such as Vanuatu, Noumea and Paris. Uni blues life member and sometime president, Bob Girdwood recalls an encounter with Wilson in a transit lounge in Singapore: “numerous beers were consumed and he mentioned that while Assistant Ambassador to France he'd captained the French cricket team in the World Cup”.

Graeme Wilson is now based in the Solomon Islands as the Special co-ordinator for the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI). He was featured in a story in the Age in July 2009 Solomon Islander children get a kick out of football.

More recently Wilson spoke to Radio Australia’s Pacific Correspondent: Campbell Cooney, who was in the Solomon Islands covering the local elections on August 4. A new coalition government under Danny Philip was elected.

The interview was featured in the SolomonStar article RAMSI is ready to work with new Solomons gov’t. RAMSI has been in the country since July 2003, providing law and order support and governance.

Cooney also quizzed Wilson about his involvement with Auskick.

COONEY: But you've got AFL coaching happening here, the Aus Kick happening, that I suppose would be a bit of a personal victory? I would be surprised if you were coaching Rugby Union put it that way?

WILSON: Oh look, from my perspective, I think the sport can play a really important role in terms of individuals developing there team skills, developing a sense of discipline as well and it doesn't really matter what the sport is.

I am also involved in cricket here and many other RAMSI personnel volunteer their time, whether it be sport or whether it be cultural activity, church you name it. I think that is really important to have that engagement with the community.

But in terms of AFL, it's really quite exciting, because we've had the first Solomon Islander being selected in the South Pacific team just recently played in Australia in a very high level under age national championship and performed very well and has the prospect of being invited back so I am told by the AFL next year, perhaps for a longer stint.

So that sort of thing in creating a sense a sporting model is very, very helpful and for all the 50 or 60 other children that come out each week see that and I think that gives them something to aspire to as well.

So I am really pleased with the way it has gone and obviously for someone who has played the game, it's personally very satisfying to see this develop and the AFL has been very supportive and we hope that this again will be a sustainable activity over the longer term.

It should be noted that Wilson’s term is up early 2011. Hopefully for footy in the Solomon Islands there will be a continuation of his Auskick efforts.

Back in June, the SolomonStar reported on Wilson farewelling young Freddie Una (pictured) from Henderson airport as he headed to Australia to join the South Pacific squad for the National Under 16s. Una on a mission down under. Also in June this year, the SolomonStar reported that the Auskick based at Honiara High Scool playing field got their own goal posts, Proper posts for AFL game here.