Nations of Origin Football success
Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility played host to the 2016 Nations of Origin Football Fives Under 14’s competition on Tuesday 12th July – a special tournament designed to promote reconciliation within communities by engaging Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and people of non-Aboriginal decent.
Thirteen teams in the girls draw and twelve teams in the boys draw participated in what was a memorable event as players travelled from a range of areas within NSW.
The day belonged to Awabakal, a traditional area of Newcastle, as they took out both the boys and girls finals defeating Gandangara.
The Nations of Origin concept is a joint initiative of Football NSW, the Police and Community Youth Clubs (PCYC) and traditional indigenous nations.
The tournament was initiated after consultation with Aboriginal communities across NSW and young people with ways in which to commence reconciliation between young people and provide an avenue for the young Indigenous community to commence discussion within their families and communities on their cultural identities.
The tournament coincided with national NAIDOC Week, which celebrates the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
