The 2006 premiership cup kicked off its regional tour on Monday with a full day of activities in Kalgoorlie and a reception as warm as the weather.

Dual premiership player and recent retiree Drew Banfield was joined by young gun Jaymie Graham for the tour which encompassed Kalgoorlie-Boulder Community High School, John Paul College, Kalgoorlie Regional Hospital, Goldfields District Camp School, Kalgoorlie School of the Air, the launch of Subiaco Football Club’s Goldfields Region pre-season training and a community appearance at the Goldfields Oasis.

The first stop marked familiar territory for Graham, its former student born and bred in the gold town, while members of the Goldfields Football Academy savoured the opportunity to pass the cup as if it were their own.

John Paul College had its years eight, nine and 10 students gather as an assembly for Banfield and Graham to discuss the contribution of regional supporters to the triumph and the importance of spreading the celebrations. Topics also included healthy eating, exercise and the three Fs of fun, fitness and friendship.

Smiles were brought to the faces of hospital patients of all ages with the premiership cup the centrepiece of many photos and staff equally excited. The obvious joy created was wonderful to see.

Goldfields District Camp School was abuzz; roughly 120 year seven students involved in a ‘tools for change’ program focusing on transition to high school and goal setting. An array of questions were thrown at the guests with one young boy asking Banfield how the players felt to be presented their premiership medals by children. The veteran called the boy to the front of the class, took his premiership medal from his pocket and put it around his neck. “That’s how it felt,” he said, shaking his hand.

Kalgoorlie School of the Air was an interesting exercise, too, with about 35 children based on stations and in other remote areas partaking in a conference call via their computers. Even though it fell outside of normal school hours, interest from the children was terrific with a truckload of questions asked.

And budding youngsters from Subiaco Football Club had their pre-season launched by Banfield and Graham at Goldfields Oasis, the local recreation centre.

Banfield, drafted from Subiaco in 1992, spoke about choices required to succeed while Graham gave some insight into his start with Mines Rovers and the opportunity to move to Perth as a 19 year-old to play for South Fremantle.

The Kalgoorlie experience finished with a community session at the Oasis attended by around 200 locals. Again the pair spoke of their experiences, answered questions and signed autographs before heading to the airport to return to Perth.

It was a brilliant day.

Banfield continues the regional tour in Esperance on Tuesday, accompanied by Quinten Lynch, before meeting Adam Hunter in Bunbury on Wednesday for the next leg.

Generously supported by the Department of Sport and Recreation, Albany, Northam, Karratha and Geraldton will also be visited in the coming weeks.