Community TABs continued support helps grow NAIDOC Netball Carnival
One of the largest Indigenous sporting events in Australia, the NAIDOC Netball Carnival celebrates Indigenous culture and achievement, with teams travelling from across the State to proudly represent their communities.
Held in July, over 110 teams competed in the NAIDOC Netball Carnival with 10 Aboriginal Grassroots Sites having the opportunity to participate thanks to Community TAB’s investment in the Program.
Netball WA and Community TAB have been working together to promote more active participation and development in netball amongst Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living throughout WA.
The partnership’s impact was showcased at this year’s carnival with multiple championship and runner up titles being taken out by the Grassroots Sites teams.
The Albany Grassroots Site won the 12U Red Division, 14U Black Division and 16U Black Division, with the Katanning Grassroots Site finishing runner up in both the 16U Red and Open D Division.
The Geraldton Grassroots Site were runners up in the 16U Black Division, while the Kwinana Grassroots Site won the Mixed Division, and the Noranda Grassroots Site were runners up in the 14U Black Division and won the Open B Division.
The Community TAB Spirit Award was also presented for the first time and won by Yvonne Kelly-Osborne from the Jatu Flyers.
This inaugural award highlights the hard work of an individual who worked tirelessly to ensure their team was prepared, registered and able to perform to the best of their ability at the 2019 NAIDOC carnival.
Community TAB General Manager Matthew Thomas said Community TAB has thoroughly enjoyed being a part of the Netball WA community.
“Going to the NAIDOC events, visiting sites and taking part in yarning circles has allowed us to extend our partnership even further by recognising the barriers that communities face and offer support to relieve these,” Thomas said.
“It is great to see so many players of all ages taking part in events in a healthy, positive environment, and emerging into role models for their community.”
“We are thrilled to know that our support of Netball WA helps create pathways both on and off the court.”
Netball WA CEO Simon Taylor said the partnership had allowed the program to flourish.
“The NAIDOC Netball Carnival is one of the biggest events on the Netball WA calendar and it’s great to see our Aboriginal Grassroots Sites have the opportunity to compete, thanks to the support of Community TAB,” Taylor said.
“There’s no doubt we’ve seen wonderful engagement with our Aboriginal Grassroots Sites, and the talent on display at the Carnival was fantastic to see.”
With clubs and competitions in every major town across the State, engaging more than 230,000 participants, over 8,500 of these identifying as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, Netball WA has a diverse portfolio of programs and activities.
Community TAB supports WA in many different industries including racing, sport, not-for-profit organisations and West Australian events that support home-grown talent.