Working in partnership with Queensland Government

Wariganda Golf

Tournament 128 players

PCYC Queensland celebrated National Reconciliation Week with the annual PCYC Wariganda Reconciliation Golf Tournament at Rowes Bay Golf Club, Townsville. Now in its fifth year, the event welcomed 128 players in recognising the 55th anniversary of the 1967 Referendum and the 30th anniversary of the Mabo decision.

Wariganda is the name given to this area by the Wulgurukaba people. Ashley Saltner from the Wulgurukaba Walkabouts welcomed those in attendance to Country in place of Wariganda Ambassador Uncle Russell Butler, who could not attend due to illness.

This year, players were joined by PCYC Queensland Board members Graham White and Chris Emzin, Queensland Police Service (QPS) and Police and Cross-Cultural Liaison Officers, Townsville Aboriginal and Islander Health Service (TAIHS), YALGA Cultural Mentoring Group, Wulgurukaba Walkabouts, Baywatch – Burdekin, Girudala Community Cooperative Society Bowen, Department of Seniors, Disability Services and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships, Elders from Townsville regions, Stars Foundation, Garbutt Magpies Sporting and Cultural Association and Indigenous business owners.

The event also is the culmination of a five-week youth golf clinic for 16 young boys and girls who compete in the nine-hole tournament. This year, two young girls from the Stars Foundation took out second and third place. PCYC Queensland connects with troubled young people through their mentors, engaging them in the golf clinic and connecting them to the other players on the day.

What a day with these deadly lads at Rowes Bay Golf Club. It’s always fun playing an Ambrose day with these fellas” The golf is fantastic, but the banter between us is off tap. We got 13 under the stick, outstanding achievement and “ all played their role at different stages.

Being Reconciliation Week, the annual event attracts different people from all walks of life. It is a great cultural event bringing us all together, whether you’re indigenous or non-indigenous. The highlight was seeing the two young girls and boys with troubled pasts.

Standing in front of all of us and answering some questions about the programs they partake in. One question was, “Who do you see as a role model?” One young fellow said,

“All these people in this room are my role models.” Whether you like it or not, we are role models to many people in our lives.

“

The young people were allowed to share their stories with the playing group during the presentation, allowing them a vital connection to the Elders within their community.

After five years, it was great to be able to let all participants know that PCYC Queensland would be keeping this muchloved community event going into the future. Local Indigenous Elders of Townsville have commended the event for its role in commemorating National Reconciliation Week by bringing together Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and NonIndigenous people, creating relationships and fostering respect and opportunities within the group. The Elders also noted the attendance of community members who would not normally engage in social events such as these.

With a continued focus on the youth clinics and young people participating in the nine-hole course again, the 2023 PCYC Wariganda Reconciliation Golf Tournament is another successful event. Registrations for our 2023 tournament opened at the day’s conclusion, and the event is already near capacity.

Thank you to the event organisers and participants.

Working in partnership with Queensland Government

The impact of COVID 19 continued to have residual impact upon consistent delivery of the Indigenous Community Sport and Recreation Program as we navigated community lockdowns and the cancellation of significant cultural events as well as communities’ apprehension to return to normal activities. As a result of the cautious approach, we found new ways of working with our communities that were responsive to what was happening on-the-ground during each stage of the pandemic. During this period of operations, our ICSRP Officers supported community agencies such as Education, Health and local Councils to engage with families in other meaningful ways to support them through the challenges. Partnerships are a key to our organisation, and in 2021, there was much relief when we proudly delivered our first event for the year post lockdown. The Wariganda Reconciliation Golf Tournament event provided much relief around how communities were feeling about COVID and was the first time they thought they could come together for connection and celebration. Such a significant annual event inspired players to be positive, improved people’s health and wellbeing and helped build meaningful relationships. Here we share our highlights for 2021.

2021 Highlights

Napranum Volleyball Competition

Over three weeks of competition in November 2021, PCYC Napranum hosted its inaugural 6x6 Volleyball competition. In the lead-up to the event, Volleyball training was every Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday afternoon. The competition ran for three weeks, and the final was played on the first day of the school holidays with over 100 people in attendance.

The Volleyball Competition had 10 registered teams of seven people from Napranum and Weipa, with many more attending training sessions. The competition fostered a sense of community across many age groups. Engaging parents and community leaders with youth activities had been identified as a gap in PCYC Napranum service delivery. Adults could now encourage younger people to play fair and show good sportsmanship when observing the games. It was a natural coming together of the community for fun and friendly competition. The winners were rewarded for their commitment and hard work with trophies and certificates.

Big on Basketball in Woorabinda

September

During the September school holidays, in partnership with Basketball Queensland (BQ), Indigenous Basketball Australia, The Department of Seniors, Disability Services and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships and PCYC Woorabinda, clinics were delivered for young people to help improve confidence in a safe, positive and fun environment. The focus of the sessions was to introduce young people to basketball and expose them to different skills, drills and games. Part of the BQ Indigenous Pathways Program is also to identify Indigenous players, coaches and referees and get them on a pathway to higher levels in sport and the young people certainly embraced Joel from Basketball Queensland by stepping up and taking on the sessions with enthusiasm and courage. “ We get more and more

every week. Different kids come along and they’re looking forward to it every Tuesday afternoon. They’re here before

basketball even starts. They’re here before our referee comes from Baralaba and that’s a bit of a drive...there is a big change with basketball being here. Kejanu Doyle, “ ICSRO, PCYC Queensland

Playing Ball on Palm

December

In December 2021, PCYC Queensland Indigenous Programs partnered with Basketball Queensland, the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and Indigenous Basketball Australia to deliver Palm Island’s basketball clinics and competitions at Bwgcolman Community School and St Michael’s Catholic School. It’s the first time this has happened on the island.

With more than 230 young people and adults participating, the PCYC Palm Island club was bursting with energy, with significant engagement and mentoring throughout the day. The program also played an essential part in enhancing our relationship with the community and our ability to provide support for young people. It also improved community partnerships and developed the capacity of young people to participate in, and lead, future programming. “ It’s about getting out

there and bringing basketball to the community, specifically the kids in the schools.

Teaching them the basics, we already do with the adults here on Palm Island. Our adults attend our annual event, the Deadly 3’s competition in Cairns. We always try to involve the parents making it more holistic. “

Sean Brennan, Regional Development Coordinator, PCYC Queensland

June

In June, the collaboration continued with Basketball Queensland, bringing professional Basketball players Biwali Bayles, Freddy Webb and Taine Wattie over to Palm Island to deliver clinics to both Bwgcolman Community School and St Michael’s Catholic School and help run a 3 x 3 competition for youth and opens. Our Townsville Indigenous Community Sport and Recreation Officers Seanne and Arika were on hand to assist the young players in developing their skills, such as ball handling and more importantly having fun. With fourteen teams registered for the youth competition and four for the open 3 x 3 competition, it highlighted how much basketball has grown in the community.

PCYC Indigenous Programs started a collaboration with Joel Khalu and the Australian Indigenous Basketball team comprising Ricky Baldwin, Tyson Demos, and Jakobe Hunter several years ago, with the intent of taking these clinics to remote communities to experience high level coaching.

“Indigenous programs

and basketball are always important on Palm Island, along with many other sports. It teaches the kids sportsmanship and teamwork. But it helps them to

gain self-confidence and the opportunity to find a new passion, learn new skills and allows them to grow, and build a strong partnership. “

Seanne Santo, ICSRO, PCYC Queensland

2021 Highlights

A Sport and Cultural Exchange – Napranum, Mapoon, Aurukun

In April, PCYC Napranum took 15 young people to Mapoon for a cultural and sports exchange day trip. Qualification to attend the trip came through the All-Star sticker system, where young people are awarded stickers for adding to the club wall chart by attending, using manners, helping to clean up and making good choices. The individuals with the most stickers were invited to participate in both the trip to Mapoon and the second-day trip to Aurukun and were presented with a Youth Week 2022 “It’s Up to YOUth” t-shirt. Photo with girls from youth photo.

The Clontarf Foundation provided a 4WD bus and Operations Manager, Aaron Gemmell, who assisted with supervision. Sergeant Steve A-R, Regional Development Coordinator, Josh and Indigenous Community Sport and Recreation Officer Regina and trainees Domonic and Delena supervised the young people as they travelled to Mapoon. On arrival, they mingled with the Mapoon people before being welcomed to country by the Mapoon Council. The two teams had a female and male captain come forward and present an Art Gift made by their local artists and make a speech to the group. After that, sports activities and games were played, with a large lunch at the Wild Cape Café rounding out the day before they headed home. Many thanks to Mapoon Aboriginal Shire Council for their kind donation towards Youth Week 2022. Bus Photo Also in April PCYC Napranum took young locals and six Mapoon youngsters to Aurukun for the second Cultural and Sports Exchange Day trip. An essential part of this youth Week Excursion was the “Gift Exchange.” Photo with boys exchanging gifts?

Games included basketball, touch, and indoor soccer, and then we added fun non-traditional games like the hoola hoop, reaction, and the donut-eating race. Aurukun had a team of 35 young people participating in the games, with more than 150 community members present to watch and support. We enjoyed a BBQ lunch together and then closed the day with words of encouragement on leadership from OIC of Aurukun QPS Senior Sergeant Amit Singh, Clontarf representative Aaron Gemmel, MP Cynthia Lui and Mayor Keri Tamwoy.

On Thursday, the 14th of April, PCYC Napranum held the “HOOK, LINE & SINKER” Fishing Competition at the Napranum Boat Ramp. With over 100 competitors aged between 2yrs – 52yrs, it was a terrific day out for families in the community. Regional Development Coordinator Josh had arranged plenty of prizes from various local businesses up to the value of $5,000. The competition ran from 6 am – 6 pm, and our Breakfast Club member then cooked up a BBQ storm for the participants, and QPS enthusiastically took part in all aspects of the day. Two boys with fish photo After a Welcome to Country from the Mapoon locals, the children played sports and finished the day with a big lunch at Wild Cape Café. The next day the young people from Napranum headed to Aurukun for another exchange. Aurukun Mayor Kerri Tamwoy, MP Cynthia Lui and the community elders welcomed them to Wik country. Cultural gifts were exchanged between both parties, creating a critical cultural bridge between the communities. The day concluded with a walk-through of the Akay Koo’olia Arts Centre, which is the Women’s Art Centre run by Cape York Employment.

SWAG (Short Walks Around Gardens) – Mackay

SWAG was created to cater for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders from all age groups to participate in a positive and physical activity like walking to improve their health and wellbeing.

SWAG is an event that takes place on special dates with different themes. Highlights this year included a Survival Day walk and SWAG Easter Hunt theme in partnership with Deadly Choices and Queensland Police Service.

“Throughout 2021 my children attended the PCYC Indigenous

Community Sport and Recreation dance program and holiday program with Patrick Thaiday. These programs have done so much for them. Besides the physical activities for their health and wellbeing it has also given them confidence to dance and talk about their culture. They even wanted to take their dancing to the schools and even spoke to their principal about it. They also gained skills from dance and learnt other skills from the holiday programs with ball games, riding, skating etc. Then there was the community benefits which was one of the most beautiful aspects of the program. “

Yuwi Traditional Custodian, Melanie Kemp