In just a few short years, a small, simple event, designed to celebrate the powerful role sport can have in the lives of indigenous people – and to educate the non-indigenous about Barapa Barapa culture – has blossomed into something much, much more.

Last weekend, the Golden Rivers Football Netball League celebrated indigenous round, which has its roots at the small, pioneering club of Macorna.

In 2017, working closely with local elders, Uncle George McGee and Aunty Phoebe, both now deceased, Macorna approached another club, Wandella, to designate one of the 2018 home and away clashes as an indigenous game. Macorna chose Wandella because both clubs sit on unceded Barapa Barapa land.

It’s now a league-wide celebration and viewed as a highlight each season, with many teams holding smoking ceremonies, wearing specially designed uniforms and playing with balls emblazoned with First Nations art.

At the time of the first celebration, Uncle George described it as a wonderful way to recognise, “all indigenous players who have, and are, participating in football and netball,” in the league.

“We hope the indigenous round will break down a lot of barriers that are affecting both the non-indigenous and indigenous people, with the theme being, that as indigenous people, we want to walk with you, not against you,” he said.

This article appeared in The Koondrook and Barham Bridge Newspaper, 15 July 2021.