NAIDOC WEEK RELAYS 2023
Swimming NSW acknowledges the Wann-gal People as the Traditional Custodians of the land, sea and community in which we are situated. We pay our respect to all First Nations People and our community Elders past, present and emerging.
As celebrations take place across the country to celebrate NAIDOC Week for 2023, Swimming NSW dove into their own celebrations on Sunday, hosting, for the second consecutive year, Invitational NAIDOC Week relays. The event saw eighteen athletes from all across NSW, proudly representing their various Indigenous backgrounds, come together to compete in two relay events during the lunch break of NSW Country SC Championships on Sunday. Five relay teams, a growth from last year’s four teams, dove in, to race a 4x50m Freestyle and a 4x50m Medley Relay. Teams were named after water animals and derived from the Dharug Language - the traditional language of the Wann-gal People, on whose land competition took place: Team Burra (Eel), Team Darawan (Seal), Team Maugra (Fish), Team Walumil (Port Jackson Shark) and Team Gawura (Whale). Each participant was presented with a cap & certificate to recognise their involvement in the relay, whilst parents & family proudly watched pool side.
Swimming NSW are very proud to have hosted this event for the second year running, and even more so to see it grow & build bigger from 2022. The swimmers were very proud to represent their Indigenous culture and it gave them an opportunity to meet other swimmers of similar age, who also identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander. We hope this will continue to grow in the years to come.
National NAIDOC Week celebrations are held across Australia in the first week of July each year (Sunday to Sunday), to celebrate and recognise the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. NAIDOC Week is an opportunity for all Australians to learn about First Nations cultures and histories and participate in celebrations of the oldest, continuous living cultures on earth. The Theme for NAIDOC Week 2023 is ‘For our Elders’. You can support and get to know your local Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander communities through activities and events held across the country.
2023 NAIDOC Week Participants:
- TEAM BURRA (Eel)
- Keisha Pearsall
- Jett Barton
- Peyton Regner
- TEAM DURRAWAN (Seal)
- Ryan Brown
- Piper Stewart
- Elijah Mercy-Wilson
- Harrison Stone
- TEAM MAGURA (Fish)
- Lane Stewart
- Alexandra Stone
- Jai Pearsall
- TEAM WALUMIL (Port Jackson Shark)
- Taneeka Mealey
- Billi Watson
- Riley Brown
- Makai David
- TEAM GAWURA (Whale)
- Knoa Casey Fernandez
- Makiah Stewart
- Taylor Ward
- Chelsea Mealey
