Indigenous rugby league carnival this weekend at Crusher Park

Pastor Dale Dowler

Sixteen teams from across South East Queensland and northern NSW will converge on Nambour this weekend for the second annual Sunshine Coast Bunyas Indigenous All Blacks Carnival.

It will be played at the Nambour Crushers Rugby League grounds on Friday and Saturday October 21 & 22 with  Men’s, Women’s, Masters, U14 and U16 games scheduled.

Sunshine Coast Bunyas Club president Brad Beetson said there was nothing better than rugby league to bring everyone together and celebrate  culture, talent and family as well as Nambour and the Sunshine Coast.

“This year, we’ve got eight men’s sides and two women’s sides, and players from all over south east Queensland coming to Crusher Park,” he said. 

“In the men’s, they play two round games and then there’s semi-finals, and then a final. It’s a great showcase of rugby league talent.  It also serves to bring families together.   

“It’s grown this year. Last year we only had six men’s sides, and we had a lot more junior games. But this year, we’ve got eight men’s sides and two women’s sides.” 

Brad said Indigenous players had a natural affinity for the game. In fact, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people make up 25 percent of all rugby league players in Queensland. 

“I think we’re naturally gifted athletes,” he said. “We seem to have natural hand-eye coordination and the game is important to us.  It’s a generational thing with Indigenous people. It’s what we do. It’s almost like we don’t have any choice but to play football,” he laughed. 

“All my brother’s kids play. They’re all pretty good footballers as well. My son’s playing on the weekend.  And football’s even bigger in the bush than it is here. 

“It’ll be a pretty good standard of football. We’ve got a lot of A-grade players coming, and there’s three or four guys with Queensland Cup experience. So there’ll plenty of good footballers running around.”

Brad wanted to thanks supporters Sunshine Coast Council, North Coast Indigenous Health Service, Link Composites, the QRL and Rob Skelton MP.

Bunyas Indigenous All Blacks Carnival

The event kicks off Friday (October 21). Cherbourg will play Sunshine Coast Bunyas in Under 14 and U16 boys and Masters.  

On Saturday (October 22) Gates open 7.30am. The grand final will be about 6pm.

There will be a Welcome to Country at 11am Saturday. The carnival will also feature a traditional dance ceremony, face painting for kids and a jumping castle.

On Friday entry is free. On Saturday entry is Adults $7. Pensioners and under 16 free.  

Men’s teams include 

1. Sunshine Coast Bunyas (SC/Bris).

2. Deskil Tapau Memorial (Cherbourg & SW QLD).

3. Dhinawan Boys (Toomalah).

4. Johnathan’s Memorial Team (Cherbourg).

5. Southwest Qld Emus (Toowoomba, St George Roma).

6. Sunshine Coast Bunyas. 

7. Coastal Blacks (NSW, Bris, Ipswich).

8. Dean Smith Memorial (Ipswich).