The South Coast community came together on the weekend for the Netball NSW Koori Gala Day in Kiama, with 15 teams across three age groups taking part in a day of netball, culture and connection.
The Gala Day featured divisions for 10–12 years, 13–15 years, and Opens, with teams made up of family and friends from different clubs and mobs across the region. Competition was strong, and the day celebrated not only great netball but also the strength and spirit of the First Nations local community.
In the 10–12 years division, the Thunder Queens took out the top honours, while the Illawarra Bungarras claimed victory in the 13–15 years group.
The Opens competition saw six teams take the court – the Illawarra Bungarras, South Coast Sting Rays, South Coast Tiddas, Deadly South Coast, South West Indigenous Connections and The Flames – with The Flames finishing as the eventual champions.
The event was more than just netball, with cultural celebrations woven throughout the day. A Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony set a special tone, while children enjoyed a crafting area where they decorated rocks with their own artwork.
“The kids did some really nice designs. The area is close to water so there were a lot turtles and waves in their paintings. The rocks were then placed around a lemon myrtle tree,” said Kate Palenzuela, Netball NSW’s Regional Manager South Coast.
Netball NSW Koori Gala Days are designed as family fun days that bring communities together. They also provide opportunities for athletes, coaches and umpires to prepare for the Koori Netball Tournament in Charlestown, and for Netball NSW to identify and invite selected participants to the First Nations Emerging Talent Camp.
For more information about Koori Gala Days, visit here, [link to https://nsw.netball.com.au/first-nations-programs-and-events ]
The Kiama Gala Day was a true celebration of culture, sport and community spirit, showcasing the passion and pride of First Nations players and families on the South Coast.
First Nations action continues at the 2025 Netball Australia First Nations Tournament, where the NSW Warada Team is fired up and ready to tackle some unfinished business. The tournament takes place in Melbourne from Wednesday 20 August, if you can’t attend in person, KommunityTV is where to watch all the games – visit KommuityTV.com.au
Netball NSW
