The World Game Meets the Oldest Living Culture in the World

18 November, 2016

The Inaugural National Indigenous Football Championships, Nowra

Mobs from around the country converged on Nowra this month to compete and celebrate grassroots football.

Image: OurMob

And it was grassroots at its finest – energetic, enthusiastic, passionate. And skilled.

Image: OurMob
Image: OurMob

Ask anyone who attended the inaugural National Indigenous Football Championships and they will probably say the three-day event was deadly, fantastic, and full of wonderful surprises.

Hosted by the Wreck Bay Football Club, the Championships was the brainchild of Bernie McLeod, who used his own enthusiasm for the game and extensive community connections to organise a weekend that featured all the things you love about community events.

Image: OurMob

There were friend and family reunions, children and jumping castles and football workshops in case the grown-up footy got too much, and the Elders were able to sit in comfort by the main field and watch their grannies play.

And there was the football. Only two teams won – well three if you count the celebrity match. The Illawarra Bungarras defeated Northern Nations 4-nil in the women’s division and the South East Dingoes won the men’s division, defeating Eora United 2-1 in the final. And Team Mundine defeated Team Fozz 4-3 in the Johnny Warren Football Foundation celebrity match.

Image: OurMob
Image: OurMob

Bernie McLeod and co-organiser Lawrence Gilbert have confirmed another 24 teams keen to register for next year – taking the total to 48.

NSW Aboriginal Land Council was delighted to be an event sponsor and hopes you enjoy some of our images of the three days.

Watch out for a full video package in the festive edition of OurMob in December.

Image: OurMob
Image: OurMob

Acknowledgement

We pay our respects to the Traditional Owners of the lands where we work as well as across the lands we travel through. We also acknowledge our Elders past, present and emerging.

Artwork Credit: Craig Cromelin, from a painting he did titled, "4 favourite fishing holes". It is a snippet of his growing years on the Lachlan River, featuring yabby, turtle, fish and family.

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