GOTAFE Goulburn Valley League Celebrates its Indigenous Round
The GOTAFE Goulburn Valley League (GVL) will celebrate its annual Indigenous Round this coming weekend.
Coinciding with NAIDOC Week, we celebrate the culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across the GVL communities.
GVL Acting Chair Jacqui Hudgson said, “This round is always a special round in the GVL’s calendar. It’s a fantastic opportunity to come together and celebrate our Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander players, history and culture. Our member clubs all celebrate the day with acknowledgements, Welcome to Country, Traditional Dancing and Smoking Ceremonies organised at various games.”
The GVL is already looking to 2023 and is excited to announce that the League is the successful recipient of a funding grant of $147,000. The funding is from the Preventing the Cycle of Violence -Strengthening Families Fund and will offer an expansion of the Cultural Sporting Prevention implemented in the KDL.
It will be led by GOTAFE’s Koorie Unit Coordinator Tracy Hardie and will run in partnership with the GVL and AFL Goulburn Murray. This will be a whole of league initiative, with all 12 member clubs participating.
Jacqui Hudgson said, “We are proud to partner with project lead Tracy Hardie and our Major Naming Rights Partner GOTAFE to deliver this project to our clubs. The opportunity to create greater understanding and knowledge of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders history and culture whilst promoting the No Violence message is incredibly powerful. We look forward to ensuring the success of the project in 2023 and beyond.”
The initiative will include:
- A Say No to Violence round that will take place and will contribute to a near regional response from communities to raise awareness of violence. All senior football and A grade netball will participate in a line up for a player address etc. A kids fun day/family day will be held at a feature match with guest speaker to read the player address.
- An Expansion of the Current Indigenous Round with all football and netball teams to be outfitted in Indigenous designed apparel. Clubs will research their towns Indigenous history for their storyboard design. All teams will participate in a line up for an Acknowledgement to country prior to games beginning on the day, with a feature match taking place with a smoking ceremony dance etc.
- A launch dinner and cultural understanding session will take place prior to the Indigenous round.
AFL Goulburn Murray Region Manager Shaun Connell said, “The expansion of this project into the GVL will continue to nurture and grow the relationship between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous Australians across our region. It will promote greater cultural awareness which will further enhance these relationships as we work together to also raise awareness of violence and it’s impacts on our communities.”
GOTAFE Project Lead Tracy Hardie said, “Sporting communities offer the perfect setting to target men, women, young people and families to deliver our key messages. Expanding the project will contribute to a regional response to raise awareness of violence and instil an understanding of Aboriginal culture and history paving the way for future generations.”
Travis Heeney, CEO at GOTAFE said “We are proud to expand our partnership with the GVL as we work together on this initiative. Diversity and Inclusion is at the heart of everything we do at GOTAFE and this work will further enhance our partnerships with local Aboriginal community groups and enhance our cultural understanding.”
