Photo Credit: Western Australian Cricket Association
WA Cricket staff and players have walked together to recognise National Reconciliation Week, to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how every Australian can contribute to achieving reconciliation.
Guided by Aboriginal staff members, the group took a route from the historic WACA Ground to Optus Stadium recognising sites of cultural significance to the local Nyoongar people.
The annual walk culminated in an Acknowledgement of Country ceremony centred around a silk featuring a mandala designed by Dr Richard Walley OAM, which tells the story of the past, present, and future of the land on which the WACA Ground resides. Its colours represent the narrative of cricket, red and white for the long form of the game, and WA Cricket gold alongside Scorchers orange.
Following the ceremony, guests including members of the WACA Board, WA Cricket Foundation donors and special guests, and players including Alana King, Taneale Peschel, Mathilda Carmichael, Amy Edgar and Charis Bekker, enjoyed a bush tucker high tea at the WACA Ground.
Curated by Head Chef David Winnett, the menu celebrated native ingredients, such as roasted kangaroo tenderloin with apricot and quandong chutney, bush tomato and warigal greens quiche, wattleseed brulee, and strawberry gum infused berry tarts.
Those in attendance also enjoyed a range of products from Kuppa Coffee; an organisation, co-founded by Kalkadoon man Kevin Caton and business partner Ami Appel, that is committed to ensuring every Indigenous Australian lives a happy and fulfilling life.
National Reconciliation Week runs from May 27 to June 3 each year. These dates commemorate two significant milestones in the reconciliation journey – the successful 1967 referendum, and the High Court Mabo decision.
National Reconciliation Week is now celebrated in workplaces, schools, community organisations, and individuals across the country.
WA Cricket’s reconciliation vision is to create a community that champions respect, belonging and equal opportunity for all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples across Western Australia. WA Cricket represents equal health outcomes for our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stakeholders, and an inclusive and diverse workplace that is not just culturally safe, but culturally rich and proud.
WA Cricket’s Reconciliation Action Plan can be viewed here.
WA Cricket acknowledges the Whadjuk people of the Nyoongar Nation as the Traditional Custodians of this country and its waters and that the WACA Ground stands on Nyoongar Country.
We pay our respects to Nyoongar Elders both past and present.
Name of Author: Western Australia Cricket Association
WA Cricket, formerly known as the Western Australian Cricket Association (WACA), is the governing body for cricket in Western Australia. Established on November 5, 1885, the WACA opened its iconic ground, the WACA Ground, in 1893.
