Record-breaking NAIDOC basketball carnival at Bendat centre
Players travelled from as far as the Kimberley, Pilbara, Goldfields, Kununurra, Leonora, Albany, Bunbury and other Great Southern regions to take part in the ninth — and easily the biggest — iteration of the NAIDOC Basketball Carnival.
Boys, girls, men and women took the courts to compete in categories from under-10s to under 23s, but the event wasn't just about sport. Jayden Stack in the under-12 boys game for Binar. Credit: Kelsey Reid / The West Australian
The event is put on by Basketball WA and Binar Futures, which is a not-for-profit charity that works with disadvantaged youth.
Binar Futures founder and executive director Adam Desmond said this year's numbers were an incredible rise on last year, when they had just nine teams.
'This is the biggest NAIDOC basketball carnival we've ever seen here in WA; it's a massive milestone,' he said. Jean Coyle, 16 and Shayla Hart, 14, from Bunbury. Credit: Kelsey Reid / The West Australian
Mr Desmond said the carnival was structured and competitive, with fixtures running over three full days, but it was as much about connection.
'We've had kids waiting all month to play,' he said. 'Some even showed up on the day hoping to get into a team. We try to make it work.
'NAIDOC is a very important time for Aboriginal people, and everyone, to come together and celebrate culture. This event brings hundreds of young people together in a positive space.'
Northern Star Resources helped provide accommodation for some of the people who travelled long distances. Premier Roger Cook pays the carnival a visit. Credit: Kelsey Reid / The West Australian
Premier Roger Cook was among politicians and other guests who attended the opening ceremony, which featured a welcome to country and cultural performances.
The carnival also included family-friendly activations for all ages and an elder's room, a peaceful space offering a moment of rest, reflection and reconnection, as well as free health checks from more than 14 organisations.
The event has become a key feature on WA's community sport calendar.
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