The Goldfields community showcased their competitive side and community spirit at this year’s inaugural NAIDOC Basketball Tournament.
Organised by the Y with support of Y young people and community volunteers, the tournament attracted over 300 attendees of all ages.
Respected Elders were among those in attendance, enthusiastically cheering on their young people in each competitive category. In the women’s category, four teams vied for victory, with ‘Dusty Feet’ from South Australia emerging as champions. Meanwhile, the men’s category saw six teams fiercely battling it out, culminating in a hard-earned win for our very own team – ‘the Y Boys’.
Employees from the Y Kalgoorlie Recreation Centre played a crucial role in this year’s NAIDOC Committee, collaborating closely with Aboriginal Community Elders and other local service providers to plan a successful NAIDOC program.
“This is the first year the basketball tournament has been a part of Kalgoorlie’s NAIDOC celebrations, and we hope to make it an annual event hosted and organised by the Y,” said the Y Kalgoorlie Recreation Centre Manager Natalie Piuk.
“It was a highly competitive tournament, and we were so proud to see the great turn out and community engagement. We’re already planning to work collaboratively with Aboriginal Elders, the NAIDOC Committee and the committee Chair Raylene Cooper next year to make the tournament even better.”
The Y Kalgoorlie celebrated and recognised the Most Valuable Player in each category, awarding them with Y merchandise and a basketball, while each runner-up received a basketball and a Y water bottle.
Throughout the tournament, attendees enjoyed a lively atmosphere with a sausage sizzle provided throughout the competition.