It was an absolute pleasure to have AFL Legend Nicky Winmar join us today for our NAIDOC Week celebrations with our women’s football team!
Known not only for his incredible football career but also for taking a stand on racism, we could not have asked for a better speaker for NAIDOC Week.
All thanks to our Change Our Game community activation grant!
Congratulations to our NAIDOC Round Best on Ground recipients Sarah Johnston from St Mary’s and Annette Carle from Whittlesea!
Both players received a hamper from Kakadu Plum with products directly from Indigenous businesses or items that give back to Indigenous enterprises.
Congratulations again Sarah and Annette 👏
Check out all the action from our women’s NAIDOC Week game against Whittlesea!
The women took to the field in their first ever Indigenous guernsey, and brought it home with a massive win, defeating Whittlesea by 88 points!
Both teams joined together to kick off the day with an Acknowledgement of Country from our very own Cheryle Arden, before Indigenous players from both teams lined up to run through the banner first with the other players following.
Thank you to everyone that came along to support our women’s team during an incredibly important week!
See more on our social media pages
Take a look through below to see the design process of our NAIDOC Round guernsey from the first sketch to the final product!
Designed by Alicia and Julie Arden with help from St Mary’s players Judhil Canendo and Cheryle Arden.
To mark NAIDOC Week we spoke with senior women’s player Cheryle Arden about her football journey as a proud Indigenous woman.
As someone part of the Gunditjmara, Yorta Yorta, Mutti Mutti, Kokatha and Arrernte tribes, NAIDOC Week is incredibly important to Cheryle.
“For me, this week is important because it’s a time for all Indigenous tribes across Australia and non-Indigenous Australians to come together and celebrate our culture, and raise awareness of our true history.”
While only starting football this year, Cheryle grew up around footy and many inspiring figures including her uncles who played AFL – Gavin Wanganeen, Aaron Davey, and Alwyn Davey.
Finally, her best friend and fellow senior women’s player, Judhil Canendo, convinced her to play footy as well and she joined St Mary’s this year.
“I was so nervous about playing especially when I was put in the forward line.”
“Initially I didn’t think that I could kick a goal, now I look forward to kicking a sneaky goal every game.”
Senior Women’s Coach Troy Bickerton shared how Cheryle has become a key part of the team since joining.
“Cheryle came down to St Mary’s having never played footy, but that was never going to stop her.”
“She has a true ‘never give up’ attitude and this is reflected both at training and on game day; always willing to pish to the limit to better herself.”
“In only her second ever game of football, Cheryle managed to kick her first goal which sent the team wild.”
“This has now turned into a regular occurrence with Cheryle kicking goals every game since then!”
“Not at all a bad effort for someone playing their first ever season.”
“She has slotted in perfectly to the women’s team as a forward pocket that doesn’t know the meaning of giving up.”
“Off-field, she is a much-loved member of the team, always up for a laugh and a chat, and she’s never one to miss a function; she knows how to have a good time!”
Join us Saturday 23 July for a 70s, 80s, and 90s music trivia night with live band Silverwater 🎶🎸
Once we’re finished with trivia, we will dance the night away with Silverwater belting out hit after hit!
Tickets are $25 and available here!
BYO snacks and nibbles. Drinks available at the bar 🍻
SPECIAL OFFER FOR BURRA 45 MEMBERS AND PLAYERS WITH FULLY-PAID REGISTRATION: 1 free beer and 1 free wine 🍷
Grab a group and mates and get your tickets today before they sell out!
We are very excited to share our Women’s NAIDOC Round guernsey!
These have been designed by Alicia Arden, in collaboration with her sister Julie Arden, and St Mary’s players Cheryle Arden and Judhil Canendo (pictured below).
The four women worked together to create a unique design that reflects the Club’s local area and their own cultures.
The water lines running through the centre of the jumper represent the Plenty River which surrounds Whatmough Park, done in a teal colour to represent the Club.
The footprints in the ‘V’ of the jumper represent our players and all their hard work at training and on game day each week.
Toward the bottom of the jumper is a symbol representing the field, with footprints on the ground representing the players, Indigenous symbols for males and females in the middle representing the coaches Troy and Hayden Bickerton, and team manager Jessie Bickerton, and finally around the edge shows all the supporters.
Lastly, there is a black cockatoo and an owl, which are the totems of Cheryle and Judhil’s clans.
The theme of NAIDOC Week is ‘Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up!’ and one way to do this is being good ally to First Nations people experiencing racism.
A good ally is someone who actively recognises and addresses racial inequality around them – whether it’s at school or in their workplace, in their community or online, or among family and friends.
Being an ally is not about ‘saving’ people who are living with racism – it’s about being aware of inequality, calling it out where it exists, and above all listening to people who experience it, and elevating their voices.
Read through the suggestions on how to be a good ally from ’Racism. It stops with me.’
If you witness racism, say something
It’s essential to call out racism, whether it’s racist jokes, stereotypes or negative attitudes. If someone says something inappropriate, speak up. Silence condones racism.
Don’t expect First Nations people to educate you
Allies know First Nations history through self-education. First Nations people are only about 3% of the population, and have different levels of knowledge about culture history. Therefore, it’s not reasonable to expect First Nations people to educate you.
Appreciate the diversity among First Nations people
First Nations people are not all the same. Differences may be based on age, gender, connection to culture, geography and nation. And remember, differences don’t make people more or less Indigenous.
Stick with First Nations people even when times are tough
Championing Indigenous equity isn’t always easy. An ally stands with us at all times, not just when it is easy or fun.
Promote First Nations voices
Allies allow First Nations people to speak for themselves. Centring First Nations people on issues impacting them means making sure that their voices are heard.
Be prepared to not be part of the decision making
First Nations people live their culture, they experience the world as a First Nations person and know their communities best. Therefore, a good ally appreciates First Nations people need to make the decisions impacting them.
Don’t go at it alone
First Nations people should be leading events or issues involving them. This means non-Indigenous people need to support First Nations people to take the leadership role.
Thanks to everyone involved in making the 5K Draw another great event!
A special thanks to Jacinta Patti, Marnus Johnston (baby), Sarah McLellan, Stephanie Trkulja, Samantha Thomson, Georgie Garner, and Lauren Ind.
From organising tickets to food, these women and their partners are the stars of the day and without them this event wouldn’t happen.
The writing of the names on the board is a piece of artwork in itself!!
Thanks again and we hope everyone had a fantastic day on Sunday.
Yesterday marked the start of NAIDOC Week 2022.
NAIDOC Week celebrates the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and an opportunity to bring First Nations and other Australian’s together.
This year’s theme is Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up!
This encourages us all to beyond just acknowledgement, and good intentions, but instead make a genuine commitment to Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up! and support institutional, structural, collaborative, and cooperative reforms.
Read below to learn more about NAIDOC Week, or visit naidoc.org.au
SMFNC