Selina Puruntatameri comes from Milikapiti at the top of Melville Island, a population of three hundred and 90 minutes by car from Nguiu which only has 1500 people. It is as remote as you can get from the major Australian Capital cities.
Exactly 100 years after the Tiwi Islands were first colonised, Selina has become the first Indigenous person to graduate Year 12 and be accepted into Law at Charles Darwin University.
AFL Qld first came into contact with Selina in 2009, when Queensland School Sport in collaboration with AFL Qld, put out nominations for girls to trial for the first 16 years & Under School Girls Qld Invitational team to compete in the School girls National Championships to be held at Maroochydore. A shy boarder from Downlands College sent in her remote trial application which impressed all involved. She had already represented Northern Territory at the Women’s National Championships in 2009 so was an automatic selection.
For the next two years Selina competed proudly with the Qld Under 18 Youth Girls State team, working her way into the leadership group in 2011. Selina didn’t say a lot but her performances on field did her talking for her. From one handed pick-ups and 50m goals, to strong leads in the forward line, Selina impressed all with her natural football ability. In 2010 Selina kicked arguably Qld’s best goal running around her opponent from the half forward line, into the pocket and snapping a goal through the sticks to put Qld ahead in a tight play-off for 3rd v 4th at last year’s Under 18 Youth Girls National Championships vs South Australia.
It didn’t come as a surprise when we heard her brother was Austin Wonaeamirri.
Due to Selina’s admission into University this year, she has decided to have the year off from football to concentrate on her studies.
Selina will be sadly missed by the Queensland girls but we wish her all the best for the future and hopefully will see her once again playing football (hopefully for Queensland!)
