The young, mostly Indigenous, players from Tamworth and Gunnedah travelled to Raymond Terrace to participate in two days of competition, acquitting themselves well. Tamworth PCYC’s Constable Katelen Evans said her girls’ team, the Kamilaroi Goannas, played three games of rugby league, losing the first, drawing in the second and winning the third.

Gunnedah PCYC’s Senior Constable Trevor Roberts took a boys’ under-16 team, which won all three games on their first day of play.

That team was unlucky to lose the following day in an 18-all draw, as the other team had scored the first try.

“They all played really well and almost made it through to the grand final,” Constable Evans said.

“The girls were coached by Zeta Knight and Senior Constable Roberts managed and coached the boys’ team, with the assistance of Aboriginal liaison officer Harry Cutmore.”

Constable Evans said travelling to the event would not have been possible without the generous support of sponsors including the Tamworth Aboriginal Lands Council, Oxley Community Transport, Leicht’s Tyre & Auto and Woodleys Motors Tamworth, as well as donations of $500 each from both managers of Tamworth and Gunnedah PCYCs and Rhonda Smith.

More than 700 participants from 23 or more Aboriginal nations across NSW took part in the two-day footy fest, which is designed to promote reconciliation within communities by engaging the Aboriginal nations of NSW and people of non-Aboriginal descent.