Community comes together for Treaty at inaugural Victorian basketball competition

NIT Published September 30, 2022 at 3.47pm (AWST)

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Koorie Academy won Victoria's Treaty Cup 51 to 47 in a tight tussle against Team Treaty on a star-studded court in Bendigo last weekend

Koori Academy Basketball and the First People's Assembly of Victoria hosted the inaugural Treaty Cup with the Koori Academy All Stars up against Team Treaty on September 18.

The day was run as you would expect any Indigenous carnival, with aunties working on the barbecues to feed the crowd of people gathered to watch their younger children, nieces, nephews and grannies.

Ex-NBL star Dave Simmons was busy engaging with wide-eyed young children at the event, his imposingly tall stature was overshadowed by extremely gentle attitude and pleasant smile.

Koori Academy All-Stars. Photo by Jacinta O'keefe

Team Treaty. Photo by Tamati Smith/NIT

Dancer, artist, photographer and Ppoet Luke Currie-Richardson said it was important to see community come together in the wake of a trying time.

"It's it's nice for me to see the people that are involved in this community, whether it's culturally, and, and in the sports world, like I grew up playing basketball," he said.

"I find that we're always gathering when it's a protest or when it's a big funeral, you know.

"Especially in recent times, with the loss of two great legends in our community. It's nice to come together with joy and with fun behind it."

Balaluke at the Treaty Cup. Photo by Jacinta O'Keefe

When asked how he performed during the match, Richardson said he "top-scored in high fives".

Also in attendance during the day was ex-Essendon star Nathan Murray-Lovett.

Murray-Lovett played against his son who has been mentored through the Koori Basketball Academy.

Koori Academy Basketball chief executive Ricky Baldwin said the day was a special way to mark the importance of a Treaty for Indigenous people in Victoria and Australia.

"Today we partnered with Treaty to have the first ever Koori Academy All-Stars versus Treaty," he said.

"It was great to see so many elders and present some awards to elders.

"Then to have the whole community here and the Bandoc Tati Dancers."

Nathan Lovett-Murray with his son at the Treaty Cup. Photo by Tamati Smith/NIT