Narrogin & Districts Netball Association (N&DNA) has a strong participation rate of Indigenous players. As part of the Association’s decision to take positive steps towards celebrating its players, their culture and their value to the game of Netball, the inaugural N&DNA Indigenous Round was held on Friday 18th June 2021.
In celebration and recognition of Indigenous Australian culture, the round began with an Acknowledgement to Country by Jayeisha Ford, followed by a speech from Shooting Stars’ Latoya Bolton-Black who spoke on the current Black Diamonds research project which endeavours to cover and discuss why Indigenous players are not playing Netball at an elite level. At half-time, a small biography on a local Elder in Narrogin, Joan Hill, was read by her granddaughters. Afterwards, a performance of Ancestral Dancing was made by the NSHS Shooting Stars.
Each team donned their netball dresses highlighted with Indigenous design specially for this Round. Cuballing 1 and Wagin 1 played a fast-paced exhibition match, with Cuballing defeating Wagin 55-42.
As a part of Netball WA, Narrogin & Districts Netball Association conduct an Aboriginal Grassroots Program that sees a huge increase in participation each year because of collaboration with the Narrogin Shooting Stars program. Through these programs, the Association can celebrate the sport they love and the culture of their players and local community.
This was a very exciting event for the Narrogin community to showcase local Indigenous talent, bring pride to the association and its growing Aboriginal Grassroots Program, collaborate with our Narrogin Shooting Stars program, connecting with our netball community and celebrate Aboriginal culture.
Julie-Anne Grout has contributed significantly to the building of these Indigenous programs in her role as Aboriginal Grassroots Co-Ordinator for many years and as President of Cuballing Netball Club. With the largest number of Indigenous club members, Julie-Anne said, “It was a hugely successful night and the atmosphere was incredibly exciting.”
“I am very proud that the association is striving ahead with community recognition and reconciliation.”
