Tara Murray
Three locals are part of the first Victorian First Nations team that is competing at Netball Australia’s inaugural First Nations Tournament.
The tournament will be held at the State Netball Centre in Parkville from September 13-15, featuring Australia’s best under-23 First Nations athletes.
Sunbury Lions Jemiah Niki said it’s super cool to be part of a team like this. Niki was also a development player with the Western Warriors.
Niki is from Jawoyn, Murry Island and Saibai Island heritage.
“You always dream of this stuff as a young netballer and to be living out a dream is just awesome,” she said. “To hear about the competition and space for other women and girls like me made my heart so warm.
”We don’t have many spaces for us in sport so hopefully this opens up doors for other sports to follow along. And then to hear I was selected in the team made it 100 times better.”
Melton Centrals and City West Falcons Elisa Butterworth-Gonebale said being part of the team is an incredible honour.
Butterworth-Gonebale is a Wagiman-Ngan Giwumirri woman.
“It provides a platform for us to celebrate our culture, showcase our talent and represent our community with pride,” she said. “I’m really excited it’s going to be hosted in Melbourne where our families and communities can come along and be a part of this special event.”
Butterworth-Gonebale said there was a mix of excitement and gratitude for those who’ve been championing this opportunity for a long time.
“When I found out I was going to be a team member I felt a deep sense of pride,”she said. “The chance to represent the Victorian Aboriginal community in such a way filled me with excitement but also a strong sense of responsibility to work hard and do my community proud.”
Éyre, who also plays for Melton Centrals and the Falcons, also said it was a privilege to be selected in the first official Victorian First Nations team.
The Wamba-Wamba woman said she was proud to be representing her state.
“I was very excited when I first heard about the indigenous team and I’m rapt to have the opportunity to be part of it,” she said. “I’m looking forward to meeting other indigenous girls and competing against the other states.”
All three said they were hoping the tournament would be a massive success.
Niki said she was hoping to see some ‘killer netball’ and meet some amazing girls, while opening up some more doors.
Butterworth-Gonebale said it’s about representing their people in sport and it building on what their communities state and national programs like the Budgies have been doing for years,
Eyre said she thought it would be lots of fun and something that she wants to be part of in the future.
Altona Netball Association’s Mia Williams is also part of the team.
RACV is partnering with Netball Victoria to help support the team as part of its’ efforts to promote First Nations participation.
RACV Head of Partnerships Megan Ballantyne initiatives like the First Nations Tournament improve accessibility of netball to diverse communities
