As chairman of the GWS GIANTS I am delighted to have taken part in a very significant day as part of NAIDOC Week celebrations.
I would like to acknowledge the traditional owners of the lands upon which we met and we pay our respect to elders past and present.
NAIDOC Week celebrates the achievements and contributions of aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians; their remarkable and enduring cultures; and the bright future ahead.
Across the GIANT footprint in Western Sydney there are some 27,500 aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with 7,600 living in Blacktown alone. There are 3,500 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people participating in AFL programs across NSW and the ACT. And in the elite AFL competition 11% of players are Indigenous and this number will continue to grow as the AFL continue to develop Indigenous programs and academies all over the country.
We at the GIANTS are committed to embedding inclusion into our core values and this week our club has participated in a range of activities including a cross cultural workshop with staff from the AFL.
Our coach Kevin Sheedy is recognised as a pioneer in providing opportunities for young indigenous talent and we at the giants are delighted with the indigenous boys from all over Australia who have joined our club. In fact as part of NAIDOC celebrations Curtly Hampton one of young stars will toss the coin at Saturday night’s clash against the Sydney Swans at ANZ Stadium.
Tony Shepherd
GWS GIANTS Chairman
Click here to see the photos from the day
Sydney Swans v GIANTS
ANZ Stadium
7.40pm Saturday June 30
