More than 1200 local young people supported by family and other members of their support network represented their Aboriginal Nation at the annual PCYC Nations of Origin tournament in the Newcastle and Port Stephens this week.
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A key pillar of our NAIDOC celebrations, Nations is now in its seventh year and continues to grow with 5000 attending across the four days of events.
PCYC MNSW's Nations of Origin brings Indigenous and non-Indigenous young people together from across the state and empowers them to celebrate Australia's diverse Aboriginal culture and its deep impact on our history and their stories.
Over 18 nations will be represented at the Nations of Origin including Anaiwan, Awabakal, Barkindjii, Biripi, Bundjalung, Darkinjung, Darug, Dharwal, Eora, Gamilaraay, Gandangara, Gumbaynggir, Kamilaroi, Ngemba, Tharawal, Wiradjuri, Wonnarua and Yuin.
"PCYC is committed to reconciliation and recognises the strength and unity that everyone can all draw from Aboriginal and Torres Strait heritage and culture, the oldest living culture in the world" said Dominic Teakle CEO of PCYC NSW.
"This is the largest event of its kind in Australia and PCYC is proud to be hosting the Nations event for the seventh year. Bringing Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth together through a shared interest like sport introduces dialogue and encourages learning, relationship building and acceptance and that is what PCYC NSW's Nations of Origin is about."
In addition to training for the sport each young person has been selected to play, education is a key foundation of Nations of Origin. To be eligible to take part participants are required to have 80 per cent school attendance and connection to country through an elder is pivotal.
Nations of Origin kicked off with the rugby league sevens tournament in Raymond Terrace on Tuesday and Wednesday. Sport is also being played in Newcastle and Lake Macquarie as part of Nations of Origin.
The rugby league tournament, which draws the largest attendance of the four Nations sports, saw 68 teams with a combined 850 players - some from as far as Broken Hill - come together to play.
Overall winners were:
- Boys plate- Kamilaroi Sth (winners) vs Awabakal White
- Boys cup- Awabakal Red (winners) vs Eora
- Girls plate- Biripi (winners) vs Biripai
- Girls cup- Darkinjung (Umina) vs Darug West (winners)
"The PCYC Nations of Origin is a great event that showcases the outstanding young Rugby League talent of the Indigenous community," NSW Rugby League Indigenous and community programs manager, Kristian Heffernan, said.
The football fives was staged at Lake Macquarie Football Facility in Speers Point on Wednesday.
The netball competition was contested at the Raymond Terrace courts on Thursday while the basketball competition was at Newcastle Basketball Stadium on Friday.
