Sport
3 August, 2023
Eagles mark NAIDOC Week
THE Narangba Eagles acknowledged NAIDOC Week a little later than most as they marked the occasion at their home ground last Sunday.
The soccer club showed it was supportive of the region’s cultural and traditional past, and insisted this should be recognised and celebrated at any time of the year; not just for one week.
Eagles club president Darren Magin said celebrating NAIDOC “isn’t just a case of ticking a box”.
“Acknowledging our region’s First Nations people and educating others about tradition and culture is essential, and it’s something that we must do as part of our role within the community,” he said.
“Furthermore, NAIDOC need not be pigeon-holed to one week in the year.
“Why not champion it all year round or at any time?
“Hosting our event outside of the normal dates of NAIDOC Week really doesn’t matter.”
A first for the club, the Eagles commissioned local indigenous artist Uncle Robin ‘Goma’ Conlon to create a piece of artwork that could be used on a football jersey to be worn by the club’s Football Queensland Premier League (FQPL) men’s and women’s teams during its acknowledgement activities.
The stunning design reflected adult figures of coaches, team managers and the club’s committee along both sides of the piece – along with the juniors underneath them – which represented the club as a whole.
The Coolamon shields represented the provision and safety that the club provides to its members and community.
The Eagles’ Harris Avenue home ground welcomed the community, members, supporters and sponsors to the event which coincided with the Eagles’ FQPL men’s teams hosting Jimboomba United for two matches.
Attendees witnessed a breathtaking Aboriginal cultural dance performance and a traditional smoking ceremony performed by the Nunukul Yuggera Aboriginal Dance Company.
Fittingly, the group’s totem is the wedge-tailed eagle which added a real edge of spiritualism to proceedings.
With an eagle being such an important and sacred symbol amongst many First Nations people, also in attendance was Xena – a beautiful wedge-tailed eagle – along with her handler Jason Jordan from Raptor Vision, to chat to families about the bird’s symbolism of respect, courage, wisdom, honour and strength.
In addition to being a big part of a new and possibly long-standing tradition at the club, the 300-plus strong crowd was treated to two victories to the home side.
The Eagles won 1-0 in firsts and 5-1 in the U23s.
A strike to Jaryd Shaw in the first two minutes produced the only score in the firsts game, which was tough and scrappy while the Eagles showed resilience.
Elliot Thomas and Robbie Bozinov scored two goals each while Ben Ramsay found the back of the net once for the U23s.
