DARE Cup brings Indigenous students together

A bright yellow AFL ball was used instead of the traditional kangaroo hide wrapped in twine, but the game was still the same when Fraser Coast Indigenous students came together for the inaugural DARE Cup in Hervey Bay.

About 30 students from local high schools took part in a day of Traditional Indigenous Games (TIGS) hosted by the University of Southern Queensland as part of the DARE (Dream Aspire Reach Experience) Indigenous Secondary School Mentoring Program.

The day was all about enjoying Indigenous heritage and culture in an atmosphere of ‘rivalry as equals’, project manager Megan Darr said.

‘The games provided a setting where we could introduce the Year 8 and 9 students to our mentoring program,’ Ms Darr said.

‘It’s about increasing their self esteem and giving them the belief that they can do anything. If they want to go on to further studies they can do it.

‘Over the years sport has played a major role in developing a socially cohesive environment within Indigenous communities.

‘Many of the games you see today have evolved from traditional games of the past. ‘Through the Yulunga: Traditional Indigenous Games resource, traditional Indigenous culture can be experienced and enjoyed by all Australians.’

The DARE Cup involved a round robin of three games: keentan, millem baeyeetch and buroinjin.

Keentan is a keep-away game of catch-ball which was played by both genders in the north-west central districts of Queensland using a kangaroo hide ball.

Millim baeyeetch was played by the Aboriginal people in parts of Victoria. It is a game of keep-away football.

Buroinjin was a ball game played by the Kabi Kabi people of South Queensland. The aim of the game is to cross the ball over the line without being touched by the opponent.

Ms Darr said all participants in the DARE Cup received a certificate and a medallion as a reminder of their skill and teamwork.

The winning team, the Mudskippers from Maryborough State High School, also received a gold cup.