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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2022-06-15 Daily Xml
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Reconciliation Week

Mr TEAGUE (Heysen) (15:39): It is my pleasure to rise and to reflect on some of the sporting events that occurred in the course of Reconciliation Week recently. I had the honour to attend several—and not just sporting events—throughout the week, some of which have been reflected on in this place over recent weeks in support of motions in support of Reconciliation Week.

In my capacity as shadow minister for Aboriginal affairs, last Friday, for example, I attended the Croydon FC versus Metro Stars game and was really glad to see that first-time occasion for those clubs to celebrate an Indigenous round and in what I expect will be the first of many to come. I congratulate both clubs.

Similarly, I was proud to attend earlier, at the end of May, the event at Mount Barker, convened by Mount Barker Football Club, celebrating the Indigenous round and community reconciliation at Laratinga Wetlands—really creative endeavours that are in many cases happening for the first time or building on initiatives that are led by the community. In that case, Cornerstone College was very much associated with a council and a football club initiative.

The occasion I want to reflect on most particularly was the one that was held at the Heathfield netball courts and hosted by the Heathfield Netball Club on Saturday 4 June, just after the completion of Reconciliation Week. It was another example of an inaugural occasion celebrated by the Hills Netball Association recognising our First Nations.

It was on that occasion, and it was before the A1 match between Heathfield and Piccadilly, that arrangements were made to conduct a Welcome to Country ceremony at the installation of a plaque recognising the occasion and the celebration of Mandy Brown, a Peramangk woman who had prepared the bibs and associated training and materials that were associated with the occasion. A wonderful event it was too, and all the more so because president of the Heathfield Netball Club, Vasa Raven, was the most joyous and stoic club president I have seen in recent times.

With all the brass assembled, all the life members of the various Hills netball clubs in pride of place seating in the stand, Vasa very bravely continued with the ceremony that had been planned, despite its being what members will remember was about the rainiest weekend we have had for years. The very peak of the downpour occurred just at the point in time when the ceremony was to occur. There they were, both A1 teams assembled, the president, Vasa, at the centre of proceedings and a downpour, Mr Deputy Speaker, that you just could not imagine. It had everybody sodden. I found myself standing with as big an umbrella as I could find at arm's length, just preserving Vasa's iPhone from which she was conducting proceedings.

It was an occasion that I think will be memorable for that particular storm that hit the court at the time, but all the more so for the way in which it drew out the joy and creativity of all present, committed as they were to recognising our Indigenous history in the Hills and doing so through community and through sport. I congratulate that Heathfield Netball Club and the Hills Netball Association on what was a truly memorable occasion.

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