The 2022 NAIDOC Netball Carnival at Wembley Sports Park in Perth on Wednesday, July 6.
The Carnival began in 2004 with 20 teams registered and has grown to accommodate over 110 teams from all over Western Australia after 18 years, with 122 teams set to compete in 2022.
This year’s event will again see a special NAIDOC netball used for games featuring Aboriginal artwork, selected from designs submitted by participants at last year’s Carnival.
The unique NAIDOC Netball is proudly supported by the Insurance Commission to put the Belt Up message directly in the hands of NAIDOC Carnival participants.
This year’s winning design was created by 16-year-old Lakeisha Whitby, who is a proud Wongutha/Yamatji artist from the Goldfields region and participant of the Leonora Shooting Stars program.
Lakeisha said she was proud when she heard that her design had been chosen for 2022.
“I was really happy and surprised to have my design picked,” she said.
“The rainbow colours on the ball represent diversity and how Leonora Shooting Stars embraces all kids. Bush foods sustain us and the Shooting Stars nourish our development.
“Brown campsites represent opportunity in other areas and the colourful dots represent the excitement we feel when we have opportunities.
“Aboriginal colours represent pride, strength and culture.”
Whitby is an artist with a passion for Aboriginal Art. In her free time, she enjoys sewing and painting as well as designing baby blankets and bags. A talent for art runs in the family, Whitby tells us.
“I got my art skills from my grandma. She was really proud and surprised when she heard I won the competition.”
The 2022 Belt Up NAIDOC Netball will be used at this year’s event by over 1000 participants, Whitby included.
She is looking forward to participating in the 2022 NAIDOC Netball Carnival and seeing her ball in action.
“It will be pretty cool to see every team playing with my ball,” she said.
