The exciting talent of Western Australia’s Indigenous youth will be showcased during a 16’s Indigenous Carnival at Bendigo Bank Stadium (Rushton Park) next Wednesday 30 September 2009.
25 September 2009
Six teams will travel from all over the State to vie for the Nicky Winmar Cup including the Mid West, South West, Central Great Southern and Peel, as well as the metropolitan area.
The carnival will be played in a round-robin format between two pools, with cross-over finals commencing in the afternoon and the Grand Final to kick off at approximately 3pm.
The West Australian Football Commission will host the event in conjunction with the Department of Sport and Recreation and Smarter than Smoking as part of an indigenous football development initiative.
Former Australian Olympic hurdler Kyle Vander-Kuyp, who is Department of Human Service's Ambassador for Indigenous Servicing, and Aboriginal boxer Anthony Little will also attend the event as role models to share their experiences thanks to Centrelink and the Wirrpanda Foundation.
The carnival is also being run with the aim of re-engaging boys in the 14 to 16 year age group who are not currently playing organised football.
"We find kids traditionally drop out of organised footy around 14 to 16 years of age, it's those guys we want to target, with an emphasis on partciptation, health and wellbeing," acting state coordinator, Indigenous sport Nick Abraham said.
"We hope to bring the kids a day where they'll be active with their mates in a community environment and where they'll learn something about how to be a little more healthy in mind, body and spirit."
Participation, social and community outcomes will be developed through agencies such as Centrelink, Medicare, Healthway Smarter than Smoking and Aboriginal Alcohol and Drug Services setting up information displays, while the Wirrpanda Foundation, Fremantle Football Club and West Coast Eagles Football Club have helped out with prizes to make the day a success.
Funded by the WA Football Commission and Alcoa, and sponsored by the Derbarl Yerrigan Health Service who provided the cup, the Nicky Winmar carnival is expected to be a highlight of the spring school holidays.
