It was a proud and historic occasion when the women of Rumbalara Football Netball Club Rumba pulled on the football boots.
It was a proud and historic occasion when the women of Rumbalara Football Netball Club Rumba pulled on the football boots.Twenty-seven women and a coach represented the club in the first Victorian Koori Women’s Football Carnival.
The carnival was hosted by the AFL and the Victorian Aboriginal Community Services Association Ltd (VACSAL) at Punt Rd in Richmond.
Ranging from 14 years of age to 42, the players who participated were from Shepparton, Echuca and Melbourne. The Rumba team was made up of players from all different sporting abilities ranging from the coach, current senior RFNC footballer Brad Armstrong, to senior and junior netballers of RFNC, community members, mothers and even grandmothers.
Some had never played football before, while some currently play in the Country League Women’s and Youth Girls’ competitions, and others had engaged in little to no sporting activity in years. The Rumba team was fortunate to receive support and contributions from Sport and Recreation Victoria, the AFL and from the VAHS Healthy Lifestyles team to assist with accommodation and shorts.
VAHS’s #BeAware hashtag raising awareness of the harm that can come from gambling was featured on the team’s playing shorts. Participating in this carnival has inspired a lot of these women to reengage in sport and make healthier choices on and off the field. The carnival has also been great practice as the club gears up to enter a team into the Northern Country Women’s Football League in 2018.
