Cubby on ‘being a voice’

By Stephanie Smarrelli 
 

This year’s Reconciliation Week theme is Bridging Now to Next. 
 
To learn more about Reconciliation Week and help bridge the gap, First Nations Black Swans national team member Lily Cubby has opened up about what it means to her and her community. 
 
A proud Murrawari woman from Goodooga a small Indigenous community in New South Wales Cubby is on her own journey of self-discovery and reconciliation.  

For Cubby, Reconciliation is about more than just acknowledging the past. 

"It’s bridging that gap between the past and acknowledging what's happened,” she said. 

“But it's also about what we can do to bridge the gap to the future. 

“It’s about using my voice with the platform I've got to represent my family and my ancestors with what they had to go through as part of the Stolen Generation and experiences like that.  

“Reconciliation for me is being a voice and not shying away from what's happened.” 

 
Cubby’s family is still impacted by what they experienced as part of the Stolen Generation. 

“I'm still feeling the effects of that today,” she said. 

“People don't really know sometimes that I am Indigenous so dealing with those kinds of barriers in life and living through that with how my family lives back home. 

“They’re still suffering from stolen wages and things like that. 

 “I'm in a fortunate position but I see what my family are currently living with, how they’re still suffering the consequences from what they had to endure those many years ago.” 

Cubby touched on the importance of allyship and the keys to helping to make a difference to help bridge now to next. 
 
“Being educated, willing to learn and willing to listen,” she said. 

 “It's not talked about enough so having people willing to listen and learn about the past to understand where we're coming from and our point of view is important. 

 
“People are never going to truly understand our point of view and mindset if they don’t understand the history, have an open mind and are willing to learn about our culture and the history behind it.” 

As an ally, Fox Netball’s Keirra Trompf echoed the importance of embracing and learning about First Nations culture in her everyday life. 

“For me, embracing First Nations culture, beliefs, and their deep connection to the land is really important in recognising the true history of the places where we live, learn, and play including the courts we often take for granted,” she said. 

“When I take a moment to acknowledge and respect that connection, I’m not just showing respect to the Traditional Custodians of the land, I’m also deepening my own sense of belonging and purpose.  

“Sport has always been a powerful way to bring people together, and I see it as a great opportunity to build understanding, respect, and connection through culture.” 

Trompf also highlighted the importance of self-reflection this week in particular. 

“During Reconciliation Week, I make the effort to listen and learn more about First Nations people and their stories,” she said. 

“Whether it’s through artwork on uniforms, a pre-game ceremony, or a conversation that shares culture and history, I’ve come to realise how powerful and important these stories are. 

 
“They speak to resilience, identity, and pride not just in the past, but in the present and future too. 

“I know this learning doesn’t stop here; it’s something I want to carry with me and continue to grow from well beyond this week.” 

For Cubby, Reconciliation Week is important in providing an opportunity to be heard. 

“Our voices have been pushed to the side or told not to speak because of judgement,” she said. 

"Being able to have a voice and talk about it to make people aware is important because these days there's so many people who are unaware of the history behind it all and why there is a need for reconciliation.  

“This week is important, to ensure we have a talking point and are acknowledging the past and reconciliation rather than pushing it aside or under the carpet." 

In a sporting context Cubby has one piece of advice for people looking to be a genuine ally to the First Nations community. 

“Get to know the actual person behind the player,” she said. 

“Even though we're all First Nations athletes, we're all different with our journey and the journey we’re on with being Indigenous. 

“The Black Swans environment for example, a lot of us are know a lot about the history of our community and mob but there's a lot of us who are only just starting that journey.  
“It's really important for people in the sporting space to know the individual, not just ‘Indigenous people’ as a collective.” 
 
She also had a key message for organisations wanting to make a difference. 

“Go beyond the surface, go out to our community and see what it is like being from there because it can be a confronting and eye-opening,” she said. 

“Go experience the community, bring your athletes and learn so you can understand not only the living situations but things like access that communities have to different things.” 

Navigating her own journey of self-discovery as an Indigenous woman, Cubby acknowledges she too still has room to grow.  

“My journey has been a bit different to others,” she said. 

“I’m from a small Indigenous community, I get my Indigenous side from my dad, my mum is white but I lost my dad when I was only six, so I don't know my culture as much as my cousins do.  

“I'm a little bit behind compared to my older brothers who spent more time growing up with my dad but I feel very connected to back home and all of my family.  

“I only spent the first couple of years of my life in my hometown but I still know a lot about my culture it's just to a different extent and I’ve had to navigate that.” 

There’s one key figure connecting Cubby with her community back home. 

“My nan, she’s a very well-respected Elder back home,” Cubby said. 

“When I give her a call it makes me feel so much more connected because I haven't been able to get back there in so long.  

"Giving her a call, having fun with her and the rest of my family who are always my biggest supporters with netball and everything is how I keep my connection to my culture at the forefront.”