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NACCHO HEALTH SPORTS NEWS
Aboriginal Games Day a big success! By Sarah Sihlen
The WA strategic leadership team, a committed group working towards a unified state-wide strategy to effectively address Aboriginal tobacco control in WA, decided to join efforts to celebrate and create awareness of World No Tobacco Day 2014.
The Incredibles: Winners of the inaugural Corporate Traditional Aboriginal Games Day.
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he Kimberley Tackling Indigenous Smoking and Healthy Lifestyle Team had started to plan a Traditional Aboriginal Games day, an idea that was encouraged and taken on board by the other teams around the state. When World No Tobacco Day finally came around earlier this year, 28 different events were held at locations such as; Albany, Bidyadanga, Broome, Bunbury, Collie, Fitzroy Crossing, Geraldton, Harvey, Kalgoorlie, Kununurra and Wyndham, with more than 3500 participants from schools and in communities around the state. The Broome Tackling Indigenous Smoking and Health Lifestyle Team organised a Corporate Traditional Aboriginal Games Day in Broome and a Youth Traditional Aboriginal Games
Day in Bidyadanga. The day consisted of six different games, challenging the participants both physically and mentally. The games derive from the Ausport, Yulunga manual and they were slightly adapted to work with the target group for the days. The first challenge of the day was Garumba, a wrestling game that tested the strength and agility of its contestants. Garumba was followed by Gorri, a moving target game where the teams scored point by hitting a moving medicine ball with as many tennis balls as possible. The teams continued to battle it out with Kutturi, a stick fighting game where the winner was the one hitting the opponents feet the most times within a set timeframe. The competition continued with Walbiri, a memory game and a spear throwing competition. The day At the pointy end of the games with advocate Shaun Sullivan
Garumba (wrestling) was a popular event that drew the big crowds.
Rising star Taleena Simon off to Dubai this November By Australian Ruby Union
Originally published on the Australian Rugby Union site.
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ustralia’s Rugby Sevens teams are off to Dubai this November to compete in the IRB Sevens World Series. On that tour will be Taleena Simon, who has become the first Aboriginal woman to receive a full time professional contract in Australia’s Sevens program. Hailing from Redfern in Sydney’s Inner West, Simon said she was excited to now be a professional athlete. “It’s a dream come true really, to have the opportunity to represent my country on the global stage is quite an honour. I am so proud to be a part of the Australian Women’s Sevens squad
and with Rugby now in the Olympic program from 2016, it really is an exciting time to play Sevens.” The 21 year old winger has been an impressive force for a few years. She first started taking part in the Lloyd McDermott Rugby Development Team (LMRDT) Ella Sevens events in 2010, with her first tournament occurring in Coffs Harbour. Simon’s rise came through playing in the Redfern Sevens side at the Ella Sevens before being picked up for in the LMRDT National Indigenous Sevens team to play at the National Women’s Sevens Championship in Canberra in 2012. Injury prevented Simon’s participation in the 2013 National
Championships but she was able to make a return to the tournament in 2014. Simon has also
was finished off with Kungirruna, an obstacle course where the contestants’ last energy was put to test. The two days were well received by the communities and the spirit at the two events was high. Friendly rivalry was in the air and the laughs were many when the residents of Broome and the youth of Bidyadanga fought for the title and the trophy. The two events created great opportunities to deliver both verbal and visual quit smoking and healthy lifestyle messages while also assisting participants to engage in culturally secure physical activity and to net-
work with people in their community. The days were finished off with a healthy lunch, entertainment and an awards ceremony. Overall it was two highly successful days with over 130 competing participants. As the concept was well-received, the Broome Tackling Indigenous Smoking and Healthy Lifestyle Team are hoping to make it into annual occurrence to mark World No Tobacco Day. For more information, or to get involved in next year’s event, contact KAMSC on 08 9195 2136 or email tobaccocoordwest@kamsc.org.au
been a representative in the Tribe Sevens side, an invitational team that has competed in Sevens tournaments in England and the Netherlands. Qantas Australian Women’s Sevens Coach Tim Walsh was excited about Taleena’s potential. “Quiet and unassuming Taleena has trained, performed and smiled her way through months of training. She turned every
opportunity into a winner and thoroughly deserves her contract with the Australian Women’s Sevens team. She displays electric speed, great awareness and a genuine love for the game – all necessities to be a part of this squad.” The signing of Simon comes off the back of a great period of success for young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander athletes with Rugby. Caitlin Moran and Eva Carpani were both named in the Australian Youth Rugby Sevens Olympic side that will travel to Nanjing, China next month. Moran and Carpani’s selection is the result of a joint effort between the ARU and the LMRDT with the support of the Federal and Northern Territory Governments to expand Rugby participation in the Northern Territory. Australian came second in the IRB Sevens World Series in 20132014 and will be looking to go one better when the 2014-2015 series commences in Dubai in November.
Taleena Simon, the first Aboriginal woman to receive a full time professional contract in Australia’s Sevens program.