Wednesday 18 January 2023 marked the second First Nations Day at the Australian Open, and Anglicare Victoria was right in the centre of the action once again. Families from our Buldau Yioohgen ‘Big Dreams’ Indigenous Youth Leadership Academy were invited to attend Melbourne Park to celebrate Culture and connection through sport.
40 children aged from five to 12 years old from across Victoria had a hit on the famous blue courts of Rod Laver Arena and Margaret Court Arena. Six lucky kids were also selected to do the coin toss for some high-profile games, including superstar Rafael Nadal’s match against Mackenzie McDonald.
The Graham family travelled all the way from Kialla, near Shepparton, to spend a few days in Melbourne and participate in the program. Dad Matt is very involved in his community basketball club, so he’s always looking for new sporting opportunities and support for the local kids. He said spending the day at the AO gave the kids a great glimpse into the kind of sporting avenues that can be open to them as Indigenous athletes.
Mum Jasmine agreed. “These opportunities have been very exciting for our children,” she said, “it’s great for them to come and hang out with other Koori kids, experience the tennis and the superstars associated with it.”
“It gives them aspirations to achieve and helps them believe that they could be on the court one day, representing their country and their culture,” Jasmine added. “We’re really happy to be involved.”
Eight-year-old Munarra was very impressed with his experience on court. “It was pretty cool to play on Rod Laver Arena!” he said.
His sister, ten-year-old Dakora, was excited to get a little taste of what it might feel like to be a world-class tennis player. “It was a bit exciting going onto the blue court, I was kind of nervous!” she said, adding, “it felt a bit weird standing on a famous court, it felt like we were famous!”
The Harper-Gawley family were also delighted to spend the day at the AO, with mum Kirsty particularly thrilled that her son Kaiden, 12, was chosen to do a coin toss.
“It’s very exciting, it’s a good opportunity for him. He also enjoying seeing some of the kids that he went up to the National Indigenous Tennis carnival with,” she said.
It was the first time Kirsty’s daughter Eden, five, had participated in the program, and she was over the moon at being able to join in and have a hit on Rod Laver Arena.
Eden was especially impressed with the size of the stadium, saying, “It looked one million big! It was fun!”
