NAIDOC Week celebrations took place across the country from the 2nd to 9th of July this year, and Basketball NSW was proud to host NAIDOC events in line with this year’s theme of ‘For our Elders’.
National NAIDOC Week celebrations are held in the first week of July each year, to celebrate and recognise the history, culture, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. NAIDOC Week is an opportunity for all Australians to learn about First Nations cultures and histories, and participate in celebrations of the oldest, continuous living culture on earth.
This year, Basketball NSW hosted 3 free NAIDOC Week 3×3 Basketball Carnivals, in partnership with Indigenous Basketball Australia (IBA), taking place in Coffs Harbour, Ballina and Wagga Wagga during the July school holidays.
With 500 local youth registering and taking the courts to compete in various exciting games, skills sessions and 3×3 tournaments, and another 300 local participants coming along to partake in the festivities, the carnivals were a roaring success!
Basketball NSW was honoured and grateful that some First Nations Elders were able to join our NAIDOC events, and in line with the 2023 theme of ‘For our Elders’, we paid homage to the Elders past and present in our region, by means of smoking ceremonies, Welcome to Country and Acknowledgements, storytelling, and some even lacing up their boots to take part in some walking basketball! We recognise that the Elders guide our current generations, and we draw strength from their knowledge and experience. It is their influence and through their learnings that we draw upon for future decision-making.
Basketball NSW, ICALD Manager Darren Allie said he was thrilled to help facilitate the carnivals and use sport as the medium to bring everyone together.
“Events like our NAIDOC celebrations give everyone an opportunity to build relationships and learn more about the Indigenous culture in a fun and inclusive environment,” said Allie.
“The overwhelming support from many local community groups who have jumped on board to help make these carnivals a success has blown us away. There are several ways businesses and individuals can get involved in NAIDOC celebrations, and one is to foster a safe environment for youth to flourish and build knowledge, trust and understanding of our respective cultures. With the success of hosting 3×3 Basketball Carnivals during NAIDOC Week last year, we decided to bring it back again for 2023!”
“It’s great to have basketball as the catalyst to bring our communities together and appreciate the importance of NAIDOC Week, it is something Basketball NSW is very passionate about and I’m proud to be a part of it, as I am sure many of our basketball community are as well.”
COFFS HARBOUR
Our NAIDOC Week celebrations started off with a bang, with our first event at Sportz Central Coffs Harbour, on Sunday the 2nd of July. There were 153 participants take to the courts, starting with Under 10’s joining in fun games and activities, followed by 3×3 action across Under 12, Under 14 and Under 16 age divisions.
Basketball NSW and our Northern Regional Development Officer, Cristi Juffermans, would like to acknowledge and thank Uncle Barry Hoskins, Troy Robinson, Heather Duncan, Gloria Mercy Dance Group and OneMob Radio. A big thank you to Coffs Harbour Basketball Association and their amazing referees, volunteers, and administrative staff. A special shout-out to Woolworths Park Beach Plaza for providing all the fruit for participants, and Lisa Fahey for the incredible photos.
BALLINA
Our celebrations in Ballina took place on Monday the 3rd of July at Ballina Indoor Sports Centre. There were over 100 local youth that registered, across divisions of Under 12’s, Under 14’s and Under 16’s.
Basketball NSW and our Far North Regional Development Officer, Lauren King, would like to thank the Indigenous Pathway participants Mitch, Ant, Teagan, Willa and Claude, and the referees and helpers from Ballina Basketball Ethan, Lukas, Tully, Ben, Joe, and Leigh. Lauren would also like to humbly thank Aunty Julia Paden for Welcoming all participants and helpers to Country. A big thank you to Andrew Adams from the Office of Sport, as well as the East Ballina Lions Club, Ballina Council, and the staff at the Ballina Indoor Sports Centre (BISC). Finally, a huge thank you to all the local businesses who shared the event on their socials and helped spread the word in the community.
WAGGA WAGGA
To close out our 2023 NAIDOC Week celebrations, we had a full house at Equex MPS in Wagga Wagga on Tuesday the 11th of July, with over 250 participants take to the courts, and a further 250 locals from the community join us for a day of fun! Basketball NSW and IBA hosted a skill session for 5–8 year-olds, 3×3 tournaments for Under 12’s, Under 14’s, Under 16’s and Open age division, as well as some Walking Basketball action.
Basketball NSW and our Riverina Regional Development Officer, Isabel Forbes, would like to thank Luke Penrith Arts & Designs for his incredible effort behind the scenes in maintaining and creating new connections, and Mawang Gaway for their guidance and open nature which is always cherished. Thank you to our sponsors and helpers Visual Dreaming, Centacare South West NSW, Sureway Employment & Training, Wamarra, Wagga Wagga First Aid Training, Artwork and Animations of Bernard Higgins, Dindima and Southern Sports Academy. We’d like to thank Aunty Cheryl Penrith, Uncle Hewitt Whyman, Eddie Whyman and Ashmont Public School Dance Group for their personal touches and storytelling, which made the opening ceremony very special to witness.
Thank you to the Royal Australian Air Force trainees and soldiers from the 1st. Recruit Training Battalion Kapooka, whose support is vital in keeping everything moving along seamlessly. A huge thank you to Generocity Church Wagga Wagga, Prickly Lizard Events and KAFE BLA9K 322 for catering, and to Wagga Wagga Public School, Mount Austin High School Girls at the Centre, Shepherds Park, and Ashmont Public School for their amazing artwork on basketballs. Another thank you to Isaac Staines, Jesse Isidori, Poppy Gray and Katherine Penrith Photography who captured the event beautifully.
Finally, a thank you to Basketball Wagga Wagga, Narrandera Basketball, Tumut Basketball and Young Pacers Basketball who assisted with players and officials, and of course the incredible coaches and referees who were vital in the day’s success Col Longford, Chrystal O’Brien, Leah Sandrah, and all others who supported the day.
Make sure you keep an eye out for future events, clinics and tournaments that are run jointly by BNSW and IBA.
You can view events as they are announced HERE.