Lake Illawarra PCYC club manager Mitchell Tierney and daughter Claire are ready for another Nations of Origin event. Photos: PCYC NSW.
Connection, culture and community will drive the dozens of young people from the Illawarra competing in a four-day sporting event run by PCYC NSW.
Mitchell Tierney is passionate about the positive impact PCYCs can have on their communities and the annual Nations of Origin event is his pride and joy.
The Lake Illawarra club manager is set to take more than 40 young people to the sporting tournament, where they can compete against about 1000 other people from across the state in basketball, netball, gymnastics or rugby league.
But glory is not the main goal.
“The event’s impact on youth and community is immeasurable,” Mitchell said. “It’s not about the sport or the tournament outcome, but about spending time with other teams, learning about each other’s cultures and forming lifelong friendships.”
Mitchell’s daughter Claire has been part of the club since she was just eight years old and it didn’t take long for her to catch the bug of being involved.
She started volunteering as a ball girl, then later a team manager, before representing the Dharawal Nation in rugby league for the first time last year.
“I’ve formed many friendships through Nations of Origin. Last year I played with a great group of girls, and I still speak to them daily,” Claire said.
“The First Nations culture side of it is also a highlight, it’s something that participants can bond over.”
This month, the 16-year-old will be returning to the event that’s now in its 11th year.
Lake Illawarra PCYC has several teams heading to the popular event.
Teams are split 70-30 with First Nations and non-First Nations youth, with 24 Aboriginal communities from across the state represented and all 188 teams from 54 PCYCs endorsed by local Elders.
Participants are also required to have a school attendance rate of at least 80 per cent, and have no negative interactions with police leading into the tournament.
“As the competition follows the celebration of NAIDOC Week, it is especially significant to honour the history, culture and achievements of young people, continuing our reconciliation journey that will benefit the rising generation,” PCYC NSW CEO Ben Hobby said.
PCYC programs manager Cassandra Ewens said: “Nations of Origin does not only positively impact participants, but it also strengthens community bonds through collaboration and shared cultural pride.
“The future goal would be to make it an Australia-wide program so that more young people can get involved.”
The community and local organisations have supported the initiative, with more than $25,000 raised to transport four Lake Illawarra teams to and from the event in Western Sydney.
“It gives young people the opportunity to participate in representative sport that they otherwise may not have had access to,” Mitchell said.
“You witness them come out of their shell and build confidence; it’s priceless.”
Nations of Origin runs from 14 – 17 July at facilities in Hawkesbury and Whalan.
For more information, visit the PCYC NSW website.
