Hundreds of First Nations netballers from across South Australia will descend on Netball SA Stadium this weekend for the annual Nunga Netball Carnival.
With 53 teams and over 500 players and coaches across both junior and senior grades, the event is the largest First Nations netball tournament in the state and one of the biggest events on the Netball SA calendar.
The event will commence with an opening ceremony on Friday morning, October 11, including a Welcome to Country by Jaylon Newchurch and an address from Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing Katrine Hildyard.
The winners of two significant awards will also be recognised as the MVP for the Yakanarna side who competed in the inaugural First Nations Tournament is announced, along with the 2024 recipient of the Vanessa Dempsey Award.
Friday will host the minor rounds before finals commence on the Saturday, with grand finals to take place across all six grades.
Netball SA selectors will be in attendance across the tournament to identify the next generation of athletes for the Rising Sisters Aboriginal Netball Program.
The event will also feature a series of targeted clinics, including an all-boys skills session and a coach education session led by Netball Australia’s First Nations Engagement Lead Ali Tucker-Munro.
“We’re proud to host this monumental event and see the state’s best First Nations netballers and administrators gather in one place to showcase their skills,” Netball SA CEO Bronwyn Klei said.
“This event creates a significant opportunity to elevate First Nations netballers into the Netball SA Pathway as the future Rising Sisters athletes are talent identified.
“At Netball SA, we are committed to increasing participation rates and fostering the development of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander netballers, and this event is a key part of this objective.
“We look forward to two days of amazing netball and the chance to offer key development opportunities to First Nations netballers and officials across South Australia.”
The below quotes are attributable to the Hon Katrine Hildyard, Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing.
“The Nunga Netball Carnival is a brilliant event and opportunity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander netballers to compete, develop their skills, strengthen friendships and enjoy all of the mental, physical and emotional health and wellbeing benefits that come through being active and involved in netball.”
“We want everyone in our community to be empowered to be included and active in the sport they love. The Nunga Netball Carnival is an example of how sport brings people together to experience just that. I thank Netball SA who, through this event, do an incredible job at increasing participation and development opportunities for First Nations netballers and I wish everyone involved over the weekend the very best.”
