More than 16 women’s teams representing every community in the Central Desert Shire are competing in the Central Desert Shire Softball Tournament. Each team is hoping to represent the Shire in the NT Softball Championships in August.
The championship and associated competition is part of a wider Northern Territory initiative aimed at encouraging women in remote communities to participate in sport and recreation.
With the Northern Territory Government providing $66,000 to help establish the program, Northern Territory Minister for Sport and Recreation, Karl Hampton, launched the program in March.
As well as Central Desert, five other Shires are participating in the competition – Tiwi Island, Victoria-Daly River, MacDonnell, Roper Gulf and East Arnhem.
Each participating Shire is currently running its own local tournament, with the winning team or a Shire representative team eligible to participate in championships in August.
“The health benefits of an active lifestyle, particularly in our Indigenous communities, have been well documented, and this program is about getting women to participate in sport and stay healthy,” Minister Hampton said.
“Indigenous women living in remote communities said they would like more opportunities to participate in structured and regular sporting activities and softball was their preferred sport.
“This program will allow players to develop their skills and progress through the sporting pathways from grassroots to a higher level of competition if they wish.”
The funding provided by the Northern Territory Government is vital to the success of the program and has assisted with associated costs, including equipment, training, travel, uniforms and accommodation.
Accredited training for local people to become coaches, scorers and officials has also been delivered in partnership with Softball NT.
Central Desert Shire kicked off its tournament on 25 April.
Shire President, James Glenn, said he is pleased with the community interest in this first ever, Shire wide sporting event.
He said the competition has attracted a record number of players, with some remote communities fielding more than two teams.
“It’s great to see a focus on women in sport and I’m not surprised that they have jumped at this opportunity,” James Glenn said. “The tournaments are being held on Saturdays only, so our residents won’t miss work or school.”
He said two regions of seven teams each are playing on alternating dates to accommodate team numbers and the long travelling distances between communities.
The overall winner will be declared the Shire Championship Team and will play in the NT Softball Championships in Darwin in August.
For further information contact Rowan Foley, Central Desert CEO, telephone
0419 816 494.
