The ball design incorporates the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags and lists the main language groups represented by members of Netball Australia’s Reconciliation Action Plan Working Group, along with the traditional languages of the lands on which Round 8 games will be played.
In Australia, of the estimated original 250 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages, only around 120 are still spoken and of these approximately 90% are endangered.
Languages are a direct connection to Indigenous culture and the United Nations observance provides an opportunity for all Australians to engage in a national conversation about Indigenous languages, their connection to culture and to raise awareness on the important contribution they make to Australia’s cultural diversity.
Teams will train with the specially-designed match balls throughout the week and the balls will be presented on court by official ball delivers after Welcome to Country ceremonies at all Suncorp Super Netball matches on Saturday and Sunday.
Former Minister for Foreign Affairs, The Hon. Julie Bishop will present the match ball at Saturday night’s West Coast Fever v Adelaide Thunderbirds game. Ms Bishop is the inaugural patron of Shooting Stars, an educational program, using netball, to focus on increasing school attendance rates amongst young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander girls living in WA’s remote communities and regional towns.
The league and eight clubs have been celebrating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture throughout the week and each team will take the court this weekend wearing unique uniforms featuring Indigenous artwork.
