News
District Dreaming
Written by Daniel Tincknell
The carnival is in its third year and was the initiative of the Northern Cobra’s Junior Football Club to acknowledge the indigenous stars that play Australian Rules football and was developed after Jarrod Oakley Nicholls was drafted to Richmond and then subsequently debuted at the annual "Dreamtime at the 'G’" game in 2006, where he scored the winning behind.
District Dreaming (formally District Dreamtime) hosted 9 matches with 18 teams from within the Subiaco District. The day also provided an opportunity to continue to reinforce positive game environments, provide the history of aboriginal culture through a welcome to the country address and an opportunity to integrate the community through Australian football.
The day featured a ‘Welcome to the Country’ address from Gus Ryder from the New Norcia Mission and a welcome by Subiaco’s Smarter than Smoking District Manager, Luke Sander. Teams that competed in the youth age matches ran through a banner together prior to the commencement of their matches to signify the harmony of the day.
Traditional Indigenous cultures mostly experience ‘Dreaming’ as one entity – past, present and future combined.
Subiaco District Manager Luke Sanders said,
“It was an opportunity to honour the traditional owners of the land and celebrate by playing our national game of Australian Football.
Australian Football provides an opportunity for the Australian population, both young and old, to enjoy physical activity and the spectacle that it ensures.
Our game of Australian Football provides opportunities for all to participate without discrimination and highlights the importance for all to integrate harmoniously within society.
District Dreaming would not have been possible without the involvement of the Northern Cobras JFC, Balga JFC and the Central Cougars JFC.”
District Dreaming is supported by the O’Regan Group Insurance Brokers and all coaches and managers received a District Dreaming polo shirt to signify the role they play in developing our young players.