Netball WA, in conjunction with its subsidiaries Glass Jar Australia and West Coast Fever, is proud to support National Sorry Day.
National Sorry Day is an Australia-wide observance that gives people the chance to come together and share the steps towards healing for the Stolen Generations.
Netball WA CEO Simon Taylor said National Sorry Day presents an opportunity to reflect on the importance of Reconciliation.
“Sorry Day is a poignant time to reflect on the significant steps we’ve taken as a community with respect to Reconciliation, while remembering there remains a volume of work to be done in improving opportunities and outcomes for Indigenous Australians,” Taylor said.
“Our game of netball enjoys a wonderful relationship with Indigenous West Australians, and it is one we treat with the utmost significance, given sport’s proven ability to bring our community together.”
Netball in Western Australia engages almost 9,000 Indigenous participants across all levels of the game.
Traditional Indigenous initiatives such as the Aboriginal Grassroots Sites program, as well as player pathway and development opportunities including Aboriginal Youth Gala Day and the Aboriginal All Stars, account for a significant portion of that number, but many Indigenous participants are also involved in large scale events and educational programs.
Netball WA also hosts the annual NAIDOC Netball Carnival, believed to be the largest Indigenous sporting carnival in the country, with in excess of 100 teams participating.
An initiative of Netball WA and Glass Jar Australia and run in conjunction with the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, the Shooting Stars program also uses netball as the vehicle to encourage greater engagement and attendance at school of young Aboriginal girls in WA’s remote communities and regional towns.
Shooting Stars currently boasts just 300 students across six separate delivery sites; Halls Creek, Derby, Carnarvon, Meekatharra, Mullewa and Wiluna.
West Coast Fever will also host their fourth annual Indigenous Round game tomorrow night at Perth Arena, when they face off against the table topping Melbourne Vixens.
The game will take on added meaning this year, with the date coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the 1967 Referendum.
Fever players will wear their commemorative Indigenous dress, designed by Noongar artists Peter Farmer and Kylie Graham, after being presented with it at a special blessing ceremony this morning on National Sorry Day.
