Saturday, 19 June 2021 was a historic day for Shoalhaven Netball with their inaugural Indigenous round.
Indigenous players from the Albatross, Gems, Lyrebird, North Nowra Bomaderry, Rebels, and Saints clubs came together to mark the occasion by playing a showcase game of netball.
A moving Acknowledgment of Country by Uncle Bernard McKinnon of the Biripi Clan opened the event, acknowledging the Yuin land on which the Shoalhaven Netball Association lies.
Despite poor weather conditions, both sides showed excellent athleticism during this historic occasion. The two sides were captained by local player Rebecca Phillis of the Wiradjuri people and local coach and player Sean Gray.
The Indigenous round will be the first of many and forms a prelude to NAIDOC week and the Netball NSW Koori Gala Day. Netball NSW is hosting a Koori Gala Day in partnership with Shoalhaven Netball Assocaition for the first time on the 1 August 2021.
For more information on the Netball NSW Koori Gala Days, visit https://nsw.netball.com.au/indigenous-netball
Picture (left to right):
Back Row - Maryanne Kirk, Rebecca Phillis, Hirani Stanley, Whitney Aldridge, Keely Longbottom, Cheyenne Bristoe, Emily Iverson, Rachel DeBruyn, Sean Gray, Hazel Hau
Front Row - Emily Szymoniczek, Lillian Bloxsome, Shania Campbell-Cooper, Kirralee Gray, Aj Barrett, Kayshan Berger
