A magnificent display of Indigenous culture coloured the cloudy skies at the Entertainment Quarter Showring on Tuesday as the Sydney Roosters celebrated NAIDOC Week.
NAIDOC Week is an annual celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture, history and accomplishments, with a new theme each year reflecting important issues and events.
The 2023 theme ‘For Our Elders’ acknowledges the important roles elders have played and will continue to play across generations. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders are cultural knowledge-holders, trailblazers, survivors, and leaders.
United through rugby league, the Roosters NAIDOC Footy Fest entailed a junior skills clinic run by 2023 squad members and an Aboriginal Dance Workshop, hosted by the Brolga Dance Academy.
The NAIDOC Footy Fest commenced with a Welcome to Country by pathways representative and local La Perouse man Alan Holten, before Millie Boyle, Keeley Davis, Ethan King, Thomas Deakin and Xavier Va’a got to work, teaching the fundamentals of the game at a skills clinic.
Participants and their families enjoyed a barbeque lunch and cold drink before the immersive cultural experience continued with the Brolga Dance Academy Workshop.
Based on Gadigal land in Redfern, the 2023 Sydney City Performing Arts Business of the Year took the stage to showcase traditional dances that have been passed down and guided by respected and loved Gamilaroi Elder, Aunty Bronwyn Spearim.
Sydney Roosters Community and Participation Manager Claire Reed said the event was a great success and thanked community members for assisting throughout the day.
“There were a number of volunteers from our junior clubs Bondi United, Clovelly Crocodiles and Paddington Colts, that raised their hand to help out on the barbeque and provide our local community members a free lunch,” she said.
“All the children had so much fun learning more about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture. I know they loved getting to practice skills of the game with some Roosters players too.”
The Sydney Roosters would like to thank all participants for celebrating NAIDOC Week with our Club!
