UPDATE:
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Worimi Nation teams fielded in 2017 PCYC Nations of Origin competed further than they have ever achieved before.
But it was the way the 96 teenagers who made up those teams conducted themselves during the three day tournament that impressed the nation’s management team the most.
“They all showed great sportsmanship,” Tracy Jones, the Worimi Nation’s coordinator for Nations of Origin, said.
“A lot of the boys swapped jerseys with their opponents at the end of the tournament.
“They [students] represented their nation and schools with pride.”
Students hailed from Hunter River, Irrawang, Tomaree, Dungog and Hunter Sports high schools.
Uncle Richard Farley, from Karuah, was the Worimi elder for the tournament, which was held in Raymond Terrace and Speers Point July 11-13.
All three of Worimi’s futsal teams went through to semi finals.
The under-14 girls team took out the medal, placing third overall in their competition.
It is the furthest Worimi has gone in futsal.
Worimi’s four rugby sevens teams each made it through their preliminary rounds.
The pool A girls and boys sides made it to the semi final, but were knocked out before making it to the trophy game.
Thirty-two teams played in the rugby competition, with teams travelling from as far as Broken Hill.
The Barkindji Nation entered their first girls team in the rugby this year. They knocked the Worimi girls out from the final.
“Our girls were very gracious about it,” Ms Jones said.
“They watched them [Barkindji] play their next round.”
EARLIER:
Hundreds of teens representing more than 20 Aboriginal nations have gathered in Raymond Terrace for the 2017 PCYC Nations of Origin.
Nations of Origin was launched at Lakeside Leisure Centre on Wednesday, which was the first day of the Rugby 7’s competition.
Coincidentally, it was launched the same day NSW and Queensland will play for this year’s Origin title.
The annual tournament promotes reconciliation by uniting boys and girls aged 13 to 16 from Aboriginal nations together with those of non-Aboriginal descent through healthy sporting competition.
It also aims to increase school attendance rates. Teens are required to have an 80 per cent attendance rate to be eligible to participate.
Netball, which was played at Raymond Terrace netball courts on Tuesday, began the three-day tournament.
Rugby 7’s will be played in Raymond Terrace between Wednesday and Thursday.
The Football 5’s competition will be played at Speers Point on Thursday.
Lee Ridgeway welcomed guests to the Worimi Nation during the march past of opening ceremony on Wednesday.
Speakers included Superintendent Phillip Flogel, commander of the NSW Youth Command, Sarah Mitchell MLC, the Minister for Early Childhood Education, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, and Assistant Minister for Education and PCYC NSW CEO Dominic Teakle.