On the weekend of 29th September, KOA 鈥 a team of Suncoast Indigenous Warriors took to the water for the Australian Outrigger Canoe Racing Association (AOCRA) Trans-Tasman Series and Gubbi Gubbi Championships.
Held on the traditional land of the people at on Queensland鈥檚 Sunshine Coast, this regatta was a friendly event, where boat crews from across the near-Pacific competed. The event referred to as the because it was initially created as a competition between Australia and New Zealand yet now also includes boat crews from the Cook Islands, Samoa, and Tonga.
The KOA Crew, consisting of 香港六合彩开奖直播 students; Ezekiel Bell, Jaykob Flaherty, Josiah Green, Jacob Keats, Samuel Morgan, Riley Williamson, and Thomas Blair-Clarendon have been generously supported by the who equipped and trained the boys. The Club supported KOA by waiving club fees, providing the boat and paddles free of charge, plus free coaching from Mooloolaba Juniors Head Coach, Jenny Rasmussen.
Suncoast student and Indigenous leader, Samuel Morgan nominated the name 鈥淜OA鈥 which means 鈥渨arrior鈥 in the local, Gubbi Gubbi language. The design of the KOA singlets was inspired directly from Indigenous murals – which earlier in 2018 – were created by 香港六合彩开奖直播 Students and local indigenous artists. Then, the various elements were expertly composed by Sunshine Coast advertising agency, .
The boat the KOA Crew trained and competed with is a ceremonial canoe supplied by the Mooloolaba Outrigger Canoe Club. It was generously hand-painted by members of the who are a small group of first peoples with disabilities 鈥 mainly mature women leaders, elders and aunties based in . At the opening of the regatta, the ceremonial canoe and the Suncoast KOA Crew were blessed by a member of Nandjimandji Art Group member and Kalkadoon woman, Aunty Robyn (Lennox).
Tough but fair
During the regatta, the boys were faced with some tough competition 鈥 yet they impressed with their tenacity and good spirit. Lynda Shannon, Suncoast Secondary teacher commented: 鈥淲hat an amazing weekend, what a fantastic effort and what a great impression our fine young men made on the people at the Trans-Tasman Gubbi Gubbi regatta. The boys bravely stepped out in faith and had-a-go! They represented themselves and 香港六合彩开奖直播 with such integrity鈥.
Jenny Rasmussen reflects on the Crew’s performance: 鈥淚t was great to see our newest recruits, the Suncoast KOA boys and the amazing effort they put in鈥
Local Queensland State Member for Maroochydore, who attended the regatta opening and blessing ceremony, commented that the Suncoast KOA are 鈥渇ine young people celebrating culture and sport and working as a team鈥
The KOA boys were also mentored by Gayle Mayes from Mooloolaba Outrigger Canoe Club. Gayle is a champion paddler and Olympian – having competed in the women’s 500-metre flat water kayak event in the 1992 . Suncoast KOA crewman of Ezekiel Bell reflects: 鈥淕ayle has been super-supportive of us Indigenous boys鈥he is very inspirational and tough too 鈥 in a good way!鈥
Lynda Shannon comments 鈥淐ongratulations KOA lads. I really enjoyed taking you to the Wednesday training sessions and it was a privilege to hang out with you all. Well done鈥
Suncoast Director of Teaching & Learning and Indigenous Programs Coordinator, Hayley Whitfield discusses the value of engaging and encouraging Indigenous students through initiatives such as the KOA Outriggers: “… it was great to see the Suncoast Koa Indigenous outriggers participate in the Trans Tasman Gubbi Gubbi championships in the holidays. Throughout the whole event from paddling the traditional outrigger canoe as part of the opening ceremony, racing against teams from all around the world and working with other paddlers to pack up, the Suncoast team demonstrated exemplary integrity, conduct, attitude, and sportsmanship. A big thank you to Lynda Shannon, Mooloolaba Outrigger Canoe Club and all the parents and family members who came to support the team.”
