Nations of Origin

Tournament Success

Cowra High School students participated in the 5th Annual Nations of Origin tournament held at Raymond Terrace last week.

Nations of Origin is a multifaceted sport, cultural, education and leadership program which culminates during NAIDOC week annually.  The program has 4 main components: reconciliation, education, cultural identity and sport.  All participating sporting teams must consist of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal young people in the formation of the teams.  Nations of Origin has quickly become the largest Aboriginal youth sporting event in NSW with more than 3500 participants since the inception of the program.

Cultural identity is a focal point of the project with all teams representing their community under their traditional local Aboriginal nation name from their area, with uniforms adorned with totems of their Aboriginal nation.  This provides an opportunity for non-Aboriginal young people to learn about their local Aboriginal culture and foster relationships and understanding between local cultures.

In 2017, the tournament consisted of three sports: Rugby League 7s, Football 5s and Netball.  Along with accompanying staff, Casey Smith, Rod Eastwood, Megan Burns and Damien Johnson together with Senior Constables Janine Robinson and Peter Holmes, Cowra participated in the Rugby League component with a girls and boys team.

Both sides managed one win from their four games against some very strong opposition. Cowra PCYC will investigate the possibility of entering more teams in other sports in the future.

The teams would like to thank the following businesses for their sponsorship contribution towards the tournament: Cowra Services Club, Cowra Information and Neighbourhood Centre, Cowra PCYC, Cowra Bowling Club and the students and Staff of Cowra High School for supporting the pancake stall.

Also a big thanks to Miss Lucy Vaughan for the jumper design.

Girls: Jayda Pollard, Chelsea Apps, MacKenzie McAlister, Ellee White, Madeline Roe, Maddison Brooks, Niar Collett, Caitlyn Boswell.

Boys: Matt Booker, Noah Ryan, Jared Burns, Zach Pollard, Jaylan Simpson, Aeryc Samson, Dylan Whitty, Ky Johnson, Hayden Mullins, Matt Prescott, Blake Williams, Kelsey Pollard.