This Sunday, 6 June the GIANTS will host a curtain-raiser match between the Netball NSW Indigenous All-Stars and the GIANTS Netball Academy.
It’s an initiative led by GIANTS Academy Coach and proud Kamilaroi woman Ali Tucker-Munro, Netball NSW General Manager Performance and Pathways Margaret Hamley and GIANTS Head Coach Julie Fitzgerald.
The match between the Indigenous All-Stars and GIANTS Netball Academy will begin at 11:15am on Sunday before the GIANTS take on the Swifts in the much-anticipated NSW Derby. Gates will open at 11am for all ticket holders to watch both matches. Tickets can be purchased here.
If you can't get to the game, it will also be livestreamed via Cluch TV and the GIANTS Netball Facebook page, with commentators Brittany Carter and Margaret Hamley on board to talk you through the match.
On Wednesday night, at the Origin Energy Premier League Indigenous Round, the All Stars were presented their playing dress and had their first connection as a team.
The dresses, provided by merchandise partner, Valour Sport is displaying the artwork of Maree Bisby, a proud Wiradjuri woman. The artwork, titled Together For Growth, was designed for the Netball NSW Reconciliation Action Plan which will be released in the coming months.
Margaret Hamley, Netball NSW General Manager Performance and Pathways said as the team gathered for the first time on Wednesday night, "The pride and excitement was palpable.
"Many of the athletes have shared experiences on the Netball NSW and Netball ACT performance pathways, but this was the first time they have come together as a team."
Courtney Jones and Tegan Holland were in the 2018 NSW 19U State Team together and along with Kayla Nakhoul all three athletes were selected to attend the 2017 Netball Australia High Performance Camp.
Emma Smith and Tarsha Hawley are both currently members of the QBE Swifts Academy.
Thalia Uilelea and Olivia Clark represent Queanbeyan Netball Association and are both currently playing for The Capital Spirit in the Origin Energy Premier League competition.
Georgie-Annah Elder and Chloe Pattison are just 16 years of age and are members of the Hunter Academy of Sport program, both young athletes have been supported in their development by GIANTS defender Sam Poolman.
Ayla Clark, also 16 is a Sutherland Stingrays training partner and member of the Netball NSW Regional Emerging team. Her talent first came to the attention of selectors at the 2019 Netball NSW Indigenous Talent Camp where her All Stars teammate, South Coast Blaze athlete Emily Dunn was coaching.
Daisy Kennedy-Holtz was a member of the victorious 2020 UTS Randwick Sparks U23s Premier League team. Daisy and Head Coach Ali Tucker-Munro are both proud Randwick Association members. Randwick Association is also the home Netball Association of Marcia Ella Duncan OAM. Marcia, Diamond #18 was the first Aboriginal netballer to represent Australia and has been a driving force in identifying, supporting and acknowledging talented Indigenous NSW netballers. Netball NSW thanks Marcia for her long term support, passion and wisdom.
Officiating the match will be two of Netball NSW’s Indigenous National A Umpires Jordan Kiss (Gosford) and Mark Munnich (Northern Suburbs).
"Although Sunday will be the first time these talented athletes play together, the athletes connections are already strong," says Hamley.
"Head Coach Ali Tucker-Munro and Assistant Coach Georgina Cohen from Lismore & District will aim to build on these connections as the team takes on the experience of the GIANTS Netball Academy."
Be sure to tune in, or see the action live at the inaugural Netball NSW Indigenous All Stars take on the GIANTS Netball Academy this Sunday, 6 June 11.15am.
TOGETHER FOR GROWTH By Maree Bisby
Together For Growth symbolises the many dimensions and levels of the netball community. The use of traditional symbols such as footprints, rain, meeting place and watering hole, along with stars, and universe show the ability of all to dream and reach for their goals. Individually we can soar but in a team we can reach higher. It takes all of the natural elements of the earth to connect to one another and to believe and achieve greatness.
The seven paths around the netball symbolise the seven players on the court with the symbols of man, woman and person again representing the netball community, inclusive of gender identity or fluidity. No path in life and success is straight, hence the curvature and direction of the path, leading to one’s own destiny. The path is off the canvas, to highlight that we each are members of community and can influence each other in our own way. The brightness of the colours symbolise the fun and positivity of netball and the harmony and connection we all have.
