3 October 2019

NSWALC gears up for Knockout 2019

With the kick off to the 49^th NSW Aboriginal Rugby League Knockout just a day away, major sponsor the NSW Aboriginal Land Council (NSWALC) is helping teams to register and travel to the event.

NSWALC approved a grant of $80 thousand to the organisers and secured $200 thousand in Federal Government funding for the next four years to support the Knockout.

The NSWALC grant of $1000 per team provides a fee discount for the first 80 male or female teams to register for the event.

NSWALC Chairperson, Cr Anne Dennis said the grant recognised the importance of the Knockout to Aboriginal communities across NSW and the challenges they can face in fielding a team.

"Coming from the far west of the state, I know how hard it is for many teams to get to the Knockout and pay for uniforms and accommodation," Cr Dennis said.

"It's important that NSWALC helps ease this burden because the Knockout is the number one event on the calendar for pretty well every Aboriginal community across the state."

"For decades, NSWALC has helped teams get to the Knockout because we understand that it's like a modern-day corrobboree - as much a cultural event as a sporting one," Cr Dennis said.

Cr Dennis said that the history of NSWALC and the Knockout were entwined.

"As a matter of fact, NSWALC was formed on the same weekend as the Knockout was being held in 1977, when many of the players and supporters took a break from rugby league to attend a Land Rights meeting at the old Black Theatre in Redfern," she said.

"Ever since, the Knockout, like Land Rights, has been a key part of Aboriginal life in this state."