Indigenous netball players from around WA descended on Wembley Sports Park on Wednesday to commemorate the 11th annual National Aborigines (Aboriginal) and Islanders Day Observance Committee (Naidoc) Netball Carnival; the largest in the country.
Teenagers Annette Morrison, for Swan Districts, and Alkira Rodney and Tayler Kickett, who play for Darling Range (Rangers), were among the local players selected for the Naidoc All-Star team at the conclusion of the carnival.
All-Star players aged from 13 to 17 have been invited to participate in development programs such as the Develop a Diamond Academy and Netball WA competitions, before participating in a trial for the 17U and 19U State teams.
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READ NOWOn the same courts where Australian Diamonds' shooters Caitlin Bassett and Natalie Medhurst made their mark, more than 80 teams from Northam, Mount Barker, Albany, Geraldton converged at the new home of netball in WA to celebrate sportsmanship, cultural diversity and friendship.
A highlight on the Netball WA calendar, and staged in conjunction with the Department of Sport and Recreation, the event has grown from strength to strength.
A record number of teams participated this year in four junior divisions and four senior divisions.
Netball WA's general manager of community Liz Booth said she was impressed by the increase in participation numbers year on year.
"This is a much-loved event that's about participation, celebrating the contributions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in the community," Booth said.
"Initiatives like this, accompanied with Netball WA's Indigenous Grass Roots netball program, are crucial to the development of Australia's Indigenous netball players and are part of Netball WA’s overall Indigenous strategy.
"We know netball is one of the top sports of choice for Indigenous girls, so we must continue to work together to create and sustain opportunities for these girls to flourish in fair, safe and inclusive netball environments," Booth said.
An exhibition match between the WF Marman (male team) and the Yorgas (female team) featured West Coast Fever players Josie Janz-Dawson, captain Ashleigh Brazill, Kate Beveridge, former Orioles star Kodie Blay and past Dockers players Troy Cook, Antoni Grover and Dale Kickett.