The Victorian Aboriginal Community Services Association Ltd (VASCAL) held a well-attended and very successful statewide junior football and netball carnival in Bairnsdale last week.
Games were played across Wednesday and Thursday at the Bairnsdale Oval, West Bairnsdale Oval and Bairnsdale Secondary College, culminating a huge afternoon of finals at the Lucknow Oval.
The event was hosted by the Bairnsdale Regional Unlimited Sports Incorporation (BRUS), attracting more than 800 Aboriginal youth from all over the state who competed in the various age groups.
BRUS secretary Alice Pepper explained it was great to eventually have the opportunity to host the event.
“We won the bid to host in 2020, but COVID stopped that, it’s great to see 800 participants in over 70 teams, from Robinvale to Warrnambool to Shepparton and everywhere in between out playing sport and getting together as a community,” Ms Pepper said.
Shepparton-based Yakapna Sports Club brought multiple teams to the event and were excited to be part of the carnival again.
“We are excited to be here, this started as a family initiative five or six years ago and it has turned into something much bigger,” Yakapna under 16 coach, Levy Power said.
The BRUS were represented by 145 enthusiastic youngsters who took to the courts and ovals in the first event of its type held in the district since 2004.
IMAGE: The Victorian Aboriginal Community Services Association Ltd (VASCAL) held a well-attended and very successful statewide junior football and netball carnival in Bairnsdale last week.
