NAIDOC Week Netball Carnival Katanning

Young netballers from Katanning recently hit the court for a celebration of culture at the National Aboriginal and Islander Day of Celebration (NAIDOC) Week Netball Carnival in Perth.

19 August 2008

Held each year, the carnival is supported by the Department of Sport and Recreation, WA Netball, Healthway and the Nyoongar Sports Association, and brings together players from across WA, including Perth and regional areas such as Bunbury, Katanning and Northam.

About 300 netballers gathered at the Southern Districts Netball Association in Langford on Wednesday 9 July for this year's carnival, where they competed in 30 teams across five divisions.

Katanning's All Stars were among those competing on the day.

Coach Sasha Dixon, who is the Aboriginal and Islander Education Officer at Katanning Primary School, said the team played together in a regular Saturday competition which was used as an attendance incentive for students.

"If you come to school, you can play on Saturdays and from there, a team is selected to compete in the NAIDOC Week Netball Carnival," she said. "This has brought attendance up to over 85 per cent for Nyoongar kids."

Ms Dixon said the girls got a lot out of travelling up to Perth for the carnival.

"It's special because they've seen their cousins here," she said. "Coming here to Perth is a big gathering, like a social meeting place, and the girls also benefit from playing sport at a different level as well."

DSR Indigenous Sports Development Officer Marisa Bradshaw said sport, and the netball carnival in general, was a fitting way to celebrate NAIDOC Week.

"Like NAIDOC Week, sport is all about bringing people together and this carnival is not just about the competition, it's a celebration of sport, cultural diversity and friendship," Ms Bradshaw said.

"The carnival also encourages Indigenous girls to participate in sport while providing an opportunity for those in regional areas to come to Perth and meet new people and other family members in the process."

A team of Under 17s netballers hailing from various regions will be heading to Darwin to compete in the 2009 Arafura Games after catching the attention of selectors at the carnival.

Netballers chosen for the Arafura Games squad included Katanning All Stars player Teanna Eades.

This is the first time players from the carnival have been selected to compete at the Arafura Games, which is considered a stepping stone for athletes in their journey to compete at the highest level.