By Ashleigh McIntosh
Representing the Queensland Sunfire team at the National Women’s AFL Championships last month involved a lot more than showcasing their football talents for Staci Trindle-Price, Ashleigh Singleton and Asta Naden.
The three Indiginous girls who identify as Indigenous Australians were not only representing their state but also their heritage.
“I love who I am. I am very proud to be an Indigenous woman,” said Singleton.
Trindle-Price shared her sentiments as another proud Indigenous woman.
“It means everything to me. That is how I identify so it is very important,” she said.
“My culture is very important, not only in sport but in every day. It is good that now it’s not shamed to be good at something. If you were good, even your own mob would be trying to pull you down, you wouldn’t want to be standing out from anybody but now people are achieving at a higher level and it is really good. I am really happy.”
Selection in the Sunfire squad proved another way in which Trindle-Price, Singleton and Naden could act as role models to other Indigenous youths and prove that even Indigenous females can make a name for themselves in the world of AFL.
Their involvement in AFL does not relate purely around their sporting prowess but represents their choice to live a healthy lifestyle and take any opportunities they are given head on.
“Regardless of whether they are Indigenous or not I think everybody should be involved in sport,” Trindle-Price said.
“I think sport is really important. It helps everybody get involved and it brings a lot of people together.”
Singleton’s involvement with Indigenous people in the community through working with the Department of Communities has further opened her eyes to the hardships and disadvantage these people face in everyday life.
“It is good that I am able to be a role model for other indigenous girls,” Singleton said.
“I have seen the other side of the coin when I go out to communities because of my work and a lot of kids are disadvantaged.
“It is good for them to be able to look up to me and say they want to be like me or they want to play at that level. The most important thing as an indigenous person is that you try to portray that education is everything.”
This week we celebrate NAIDOC week which highlights the issues that are still prevalent in Indigenous communities calling for everyone to contribute to even out the playing field and put Indigenous Australians on equal footing.
“It is a good chance for non-Indigenous people to experience our culture, get to learn where we come from, what we have had to endure and that the healing process is still occurring,” Singleton said.
“A lot of us are descendants from the people who were stolen but in that respect it is up to us to move forward and not stay stuck in the past and move together as one to alleviate racism.”
FROM BACK LEFT: Antoinette Daylight (Team Doctor), Ellie Martin (PNG-Born), Auntie Josie, Staci Trindle-Price, Asta Naden FRONT LEFT: Ashleigh Singleton.
