www.firstnationstelegraph.com
Siblings to share stage at Indigenous Festival in Newcastle by Tracie Edmondson 2 February 2014
F
amily pride is plentiful in the Redfern household of talented siblings Lavinia and Kareel Phillips who are preparing to share centrestage in two headline matches at the NRL’s Festival of Indigenous Rugby League in Newcastle next week (Saturday, February 8). Lavinia has been named in a strong line-up for the NSW Indigenous Women’s team including World Cup winning Jillaroos sisters Julie and Emma Young and sister-in-law Rebecca Young, who will play against former All Stars reps Teresa Anderson, Theresa Anderson, Bianca Ambrum, Ashleigh
Singleton and Ashley Monkland in the QLD Women’s Indigenous team. Lavinia’s brother Kareel Phillips was also named in Laurie Daley’s non-elite Indigenous team, the First Nations Goannas, who will play in a trial match against Wayne Bennett’s Newcastle Knights, marking the culmination of the week-long festival in place of the Rugby League All Stars, which is being rested in 2014 post World Cup. Determination and hard work runs in the family with their father Shane Phillips awarded the Australian Local Hero in the 2013 Australian of the Year Awards for his work as an advocate for Aboriginal rights and his role as CEO of the Tribal Warrior
Association. “I’m really fortunate to be able to share this experience with my brother,” said Lavinia. “I feel honoured to be selected among such talented women and I’m looking forward to representing both my family and my community. “Rugby League is a big part of our lives, so next week will be pretty significant for all of our family.” Kareel was officially welcomed into the First Nations Goannas camp on Tuesday as he set off for a week’s training with the Rabbitohs as part of the NRL’s initiative to give talented young Indigenous players first-hand experience of what it takes to play in the game’s premier competition. Teams list page 2
Julie Young, Bec Young and Bianca Ambrum with Gordon Tallis as Australian representatives but will play in opposite sides in the interstate Indigenous women’s clash. Image supplied
Page 1
www.firstnationstelegraph.com
QLD Women’s Indigenous Team
NSW Women’s Indigenous Team
Teresa Anderson (C) - Inala
Caitlin Moran - Newcastle Yowies
Tracey Hill - Inala
Nakia Davis Welsh - Mindaribba
Natalia Wauhcope - N/Territory
Mailika Moylan - Newcastle Yowies
Chantelle Dodd - Highlanders
Tanisha Stanton - Newcastle Yowies
Ashley Monkland - Highlanders
Lavina Phillips - RAB
Theresa Anderson (VC) - Highlanders
Kiah Simon - Newcastle Yowies
Jess Shaw - Highlanders
Rebecca Young - Mindaribba
Ashleigh Singleton - North QLD Waru
Julie Young - Mindaribba
Katie Shaw - Highlanders
Karlinda Potts - Illawarra Titans
Kaitlin Moss - Injured pre carnival
Kiara Maza - RAB
Tallisha McKinnon - Highlanders
Emma Young - Mindaribba
Tegan Gibbs - Tiddas
Kandy Kennedy - Mindaribba
Bianca Ambrum - Nth QLD Waru
Khloe Caldwell - RAB
Molly O’Connell - Toowoomba
Carly Phillips - RAB
Sharni Upton - Highlanders
Nikita Wilson - Sister Strong (Wollongong)
Natasha White - Highlanders
Mel Sutton - Mindaribba
Tash Taylor - Highlanders
Shaylin Williams - RAB
Ayrlie Timmermans - Inala
Eunice Grimes - Mindaribba
COACH: Karen Stuart
COACH: Dean Widders
MANAGER: Troy Buyer
MANAGER: Michelle Baille
Page 2