By Troy Brown
On September 26 and 27, the Victorian Aboriginal Community Services Association Ltd (VACSAL) held their annual state-wide junior football and netball carnival in Reservoir, Victoria.
The tournament came out to be a great success with all family and mob that came to spectate and play some fantastic sport.
If you have not yet caught up with the carnival you will be delighted to know that Bairnsdale Regional Unlimited Sports (BRUS), a local Aboriginal volunteer organisation, brought seven teams down for the event, four in netball and three in football.
The mission of BRUS is to improve the health and wellbeing of East Gippsland’s Aboriginal community by providing pathways, mentoring, supporting and encouraging participation in all sports and physical activity.
We all love the work that BRUS does for our community.
Because of BRUS we get to take mob out to events such as this and enjoy making lifelong memories as we watch or play.
GEGAC staff Sarah Baxter (Cultural Manager of Health and Wellbeing) and Alana Solomon (Cultural Manager of Education) are a part of the BRUS board, and were involved in coaching and supporting teams at the carnival.
Alana coached the under 17s girls netball.
“To be able to have events like this means the world to us,” Alana said. “It’s always great to get away for a few days every year for the carnival.”
Sarah said she loves getting involved with anything that involves mob getting together and having and all-round great time.
“I love what we do as a committee and as a community”, Sarah said. “This is one of my true passions – reuniting mob. When I was little, I loved getting around and seeing all of my families come together. And to be able to pay it forward I give my best to get things like this done.”
Here is our teams done:
VACSAL Carnival Teams Day 1
9s Footy: 3 Wins & 3 Losses
12s Footy: 3 Wins & undefeated
15s Footy: 2 Wins & 3 Losses
9s Netball: 1 Win, 2 Draws & 2 Losses
12s Netball: 1 Win & 3 Losses
15s Netball: 4 Wins & undefeated
17s Netball: 5 Wins & undefeated
VACSAL Carnival Teams Day 2
9s Footy: No Games
12s Footy: 1 Loss
15s Footy: No Games
9s Netball: No Games
12s Netball: No Games
15s Netball: 1 Win & 1 Loss
17s Netball: 1 Win & 1 Loss
VACSAL Carnival Teams Semi Finals
9s Footy: Semi Final loss to Bombala Brothers 42-12
12s Footy: Semi Final won against Southern Storm 34-6
15s Footy: Semi Finals loss to Southern Storm 29-11
15s Netball: Semi Finals loss to Desert Roses 19-5
17s Netball: Semi Finals won against Mallee Tigers 14-7
9 and 12 Netball played deadly all tournament
VACSAL Carnival Teams Grand Finals
12s Football: BRUS lost against West Vic Eels 18-38
17s Netball: East Gippy Girls won against Desert Roses 28-25 with Claire Brown winning MVP.
We here at GEGAC congratulate and thank all the players that participated, from players to coaches and to volunteers.
Without you there is no carnival to be held, so we extend our gratitude to you guys
We also thank all the parents and guardians that took the time to take children down to play. It is so great to watch stuff like that happen.
Well done everyone.
