More than 1000 take to the court for 22nd Koori Netball Tournament

Callan Morse Published November 1, 2023 at 11.00am (AWST)

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La Perouse Netball Club took out the Open Women’s A Division of the 2023 Koori Netball Tournament. (Image: supplied)

More than 1000 Indigenous and non-Indigenous netballers from across New South Wales converged on Newcastle's Charlestown Netball Courts last weekend for the Koori Netball Tournament.

The annual competition saw more than 90 teams compete across six divisions, including open women's A and B divisions, a mixed division and three junior divisions.

Sydney's La Perouse Netball Club took out the Open Women's A division, overcoming #4 Voguey in the final, with Voguey's Sarah Graham awarded Player of the Tournament.

New South Wales Minister for Sport, Steve Camper, said the high-quality competition has been providing an opportunity for reconciliation through sport for decades.

"Last weekend's Koori Netball Tournament featured high quality netball," he said.

"The Koori Netball Tournament has been enhancing reconciliation through sport for more than 20 years and it was fantastic to provide the opportunity for Aboriginal netballers to again showcase their talent in a competitive and inclusive environment."

The tournament was hosted by Charlestown Netball Association with the support of the NSW Office of Sport and Netball NSW.

Charlestown Netball Association President, Di Pascoe, said the competition provided an environment of both competitive and cultural importance.

"From the opening ceremony with the magical little Midnight Dreaming dancers to the last whistle on the Sunday the weekend was full of wonderful netball, competitive netball, social netball and communities coming together as one, enjoying the atmosphere, the catching up with friends, relatives and other mobs just like a corroboree," Ms Pascoe said.

"The uniforms were colourful, the faces were smiling, the games played in good spirit, the whole weekend was just wonderful. We all can't wait to do it all again in 2024."

Netball NSW Executive General Manager – Communities & Pathways, Tim Fava said the 22nd edition of the Tournament was an overarching success.

"It was a weekend of vibrant colours, talent and an awe-inspiring sense of community across all courts at the Koori Tournament which was brilliantly hosted by Charlestown Netball Association," Mr Fava said.

"This year's event once again showcased Netball's power to connect people of all backgrounds on court and it highlighted the dedication and passion of the community that makes it a staple of the NSW sporting landscape."

2023 Koori Netball Tournament Results

Open Women's A

Winner: Laperouse

Runner-up: #4 Voguey

Player of the Tournament: Sarah Graham (#4 Voguey - Newcastle)

Open Women's B

Winner: Kookaburras 1

Runner-up: Awabakal Sisters

Player of the Tournament: Alearah Donovan (Kookaburras 1)

Open Mixed

Winner: #4 Voguey Purple

Runner-up: Awabakal Sisters & Borthers