SEQ Dingoes In Historic Visit To 1 William Street
Pictured above from left to right: SEQ Dingoes Coach Allan Takken, Brisbane Roar's Jade North, Chris Swain - indigenous player of the tournament.
In the first ever official government reception to be held in the new plush Queensland Government building on 1 William Street, the South East QLD Dingoes indigenous team received official recognition from the Queensland Government for their recent triumph in the National Indigenous Football Championships, hosted by the Hon Mark Ryan, MP for Morayfield. Several players and officials from the team, the majority of whom play locally in Brisbane, were joined by family and friends, as well as dignitaries, including Brisbane Roar’s Jade North, Football Brisbane President Brendon Boss, Helena Wright - Acting Deputy Director-General for the QLD Department of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships, and Richard Watson - Deputy Director-General National Parks, Sport and Recreation Services. SEQ Dingoes Coach Allan Takken, who is also President of Narangba United FC; thanked everyone who supported the team in getting to Nowra, NSW, where the tournament was hosted, with particular thanks singled out for Football Brisbane and President Brendon Boss, for the financial support Football Brisbane provided to the team that paved the way for the SEQ Dingoes entry into the tournament. Mr Takken touched upon the unity and kinship amongst not just the team, but across the tournament participants as a whole and he acknowledged his mother Linda Medlin who has for many years, been an advocate for support and development of young indigenous players in the game at a local level. Mr Takken also expressed a desire for an indigenous all-stars team that would likely attract generous support from across the community should an all-stars game in the future become a reality, such as that seen from the other codes around the country. Football Brisbane President Brendon Boss was full of praise for the SEQ Dingoes success and expressed his wishes to see the tournament hosted next year in South East Queensland. This was echoed by Brisbane Roar defender and tournament ambassador Jade North; suggesting that the tournament could well triple in size based on the success of this year’s event and the feedback he’s received, and that he would also lend his support to pushing for it to be hosted in Queensland in 2017. Mr Boss, in his other role as General Manager for Brisbane Roar, very generously invited the entire SEQ Dingoes team and management to Brisbane Roar’s home game against Western Sydney Wanderers on Dec 23rd, also adding that their achievement would be recognised on the big screens prior to the game. The SEQ Dingoes success can hopefully encourage young indigenous children to the game with tournaments such as the National Indigenous Football Championships providing a valuable pathway and exposure for players. Jade North added this sentiment to the success of such tournaments when asked what can be done to help grow the game amongst indigenous communities. He also reiterated that competing codes, especially Rugby League and AFL are still a big draw card in indigenous communities with the exposure of the game in Australian mainstream media as well as the high profile indigenous stars playing within it, but with greater support and mentoring, North believes indigenous football can develop and that there are potential stars of the future waiting to be discovered. North added, “Indigenous kids suit the round ball game with their agility and speed as well as their good hand/eye coordination.” Asked what can the game’s governing bodies do to help encourage indigenous involvement, North said, “Getting behind the tournaments such as the ones the Dingoes competed in is important, and also help support with pathway programs and education for indigenous players. Programs that have existed for a long time within other codes.” He stated, “It can be daunting for young indigenous players coming to the larger metropolitan areas, with them often wanting to hop on the train back to their families and communities, so a good supportive network is needed to help them settle and that they need to have someone to look up to.” There’s no doubting the SEQ Dingoes have made an impact and with continued support, more indigenous players can emerge into The World Game and grace the fields of Brisbane clubs for generations to come.
