NAIDOC Week ‘festival of footy’ heralds NYU Indigenous scholarship program

From left, Ethan Whitworth (in goalkeeper top), Jemma Kennedy,  Reece Bridges, Grace Bower and Tjkarni Knox model the colourful NAIDOC Week jerseys. 

NAIDOC Week is July 3-10 and to celebrate Nambour Yandina United Football Club are hosting a festival of football at their Yandina fields on Saturday July 9.

The festivities are aimed at creating an all-inclusive environment while promoting the club’s latest initiative, NYU’s Indigenous Scholarship Program.

“It will be a huge festival of football,” said senior men’s player Korey Nix. 

Senior teams will be wearing jerseys designed specifically for the occasion by local Indigenous artist Zoe Raymond (Yindjibarndi and Pinikura), featuring their major sponsor REFOCUS, a local Indigenous not for profit organisation.

The jerseys will be available for auction, both online and in person at the event.

The day kicks off with our juniors starting at 10:30am, followed by our senior men’s and women’s matches against Beegees.

NYUs player-lead Scholarship program aims to reach the wider community, by creating opportunities and pathways where there may not have been before. 

All of the profits from the NAIDOC round will go towards the scholarship program and any future NAIDOC events. 

“The more funds we raise the more we can help,” said Zoe.

“So we invite everyone to bring the family down, enjoy some awesome football and learn more about our Indigenous culture.”

• The 9 July event at the Yandina football fields will hold games from 10.30am featuring FQPL U23 Men and Women at 2pm, FQPL Premier Women at 4pm. A welcome to Country will be conducted prior to the main game: FQPL Premier Men at 6pm.