Touch tournament to celebrate life

More than 90 students and tutors will gather to celebrate the life of a former Bay of Plenty Polytechnic student in Greerton Park on Wednesday.

For more than ten years, Bay of Plenty Polytechnic students and tutors have taken part in Marty’s Touch Tournament, a day dedicated to the memory of Marty Teo – who died more than ten years ago.

Students play touch in honour of Marty Teo at last year’s touch tournament.

Polytechnic student experience intern Monique Lowry says people have shown a lot of interest in the tournament this year.

“We have had ten teams enter so far, with a strong showing from the Sport and Recreation courses, three teams of which are from Cert4Fitness course”.

This year’s tournament will coincide with Youth Week, which is focused on ‘loving the skin you’re in’, says Monique.

 “Youth Week was an appropriate time to host Marty’s Touch Tournament, especially with this year’s theme.” 

Cert4Fitness tutor, Kelly Pender, who knew Marty both as a student and on the rugby field, is a keen follower of the Touch tournament and makes it compulsory for his students to attend. “Marty was a super bubbly, philosophical, energetic and highly motivated student who unfortunately suffered from chronic depression.”

Marty, who was well known in the community for his contribution to rugby, was a graduate of the Diploma in Sport and Recreation in 1999.

He was also a young and promising referee, who refereed Bay of Plenty Rugby Premier competition games and was working his way up to becoming a top level referee, says Kelly.

Events are being run nationwide during Youth Week encouraging young people to show off their special talents, be creative and have fun.

The Polytechnic’s touch tournament will run at Greerton Park from 3 – 5pm.