United: Congupna A-grade coach Jodie Fleming with Rumbalara A-grade coach Jess Bamblett ahead of the Unity Cup this Saturday.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
Congupna and Rumbalara football netball clubs will stand side by side this weekend for the 16th edition of one of the most powerful days on the district sporting calendar – the Unity Cup.
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The two clubs will come together on Saturday at Rumbalara’s home ground Mercury Drive, Shepparton for the event that celebrates the role of women in the community and in sport.
Football and netball will take a back seat, with The Road and Rumba sharing a special moment out on the field
The senior footballers and other men from both clubs will form a guard of honour for the A-grade netballers – and all women in attendance – to walk through.
Yorta Yorta woman Aunty Rochelle Patten and Wemba Wemba woman Aunty Kate Briggs will lead the procession at noon, with a special president’s lunch to follow the walk through.
After that, the two teams will face off in the football and netball with a chance to win the respective Unity cups.
Congupna A-grade coach Jodie Fleming said it would be a privilege for her to take part in her first Unity Cup.
“It is an honour to take part,“ Fleming said,
“I feel like any time that we are celebrating women, particularly women in sport, is always a terrific thing.
“The talented women that will be taking that court on Saturday are an inspiration to younger people.
“I think for too long women have been very much in the background of sport, even though we have been playing for a long time. I think it is good to bring not just those who are on the court, but everyone else behind the scenes running clubs and being part of the community.”
Coming together: Congupna president Jack Hicks, netball operations manager Debbie McColl, and A-grade coach Jodie Fleming with Rumbalara A-grade coach Jess Bamblett, netball chairperson Beck Dean and president Josh Atkinson.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
Rumbalara A-grade coach Jess Bamblett has taken part in multiple Unity cups and said it had been fantastic to see the event grow across the years.
“I think it gets better and better every year, which is great to see,” Bamblett said.
“We get not just women, but more people coming down to join in what is a great day to showcase and acknowledge these strong women in netball and the community.
“I think it helps pave way for these young women and to set a good example about how strong we are and our ability, not just in the community but in sport as well.”
The event is open for all members of the community to come down to, with all men and women encouraged to take part in the guard of honour.
Fleming said it would be a special day and urged people to come down and experience the occasion.
“It is one of those iconic events that happens in our region in Shepparton.,” Fleming said.
“For us to be united as one, not just Indigenous or non-Indigenous, but as women collectively, this is really important. I love the fact that we have a day where we recognise this and congratulate it.
“Rumbalara is a terrific club and the atmosphere down there is really special. We are really involved in our Indigenous community in Shepparton and I think for people to come down and experience the spirituality of being together, it is a really special environment.”
On the court, Rumba will be on the hunt for its first A-grade win of the season, while Congupna will be looking to improve to 2-1.
Rumba fell to reigning premier Deniliquin in round one, before getting the week off in round two with a bye.
Congupna defeated Barooga in round one, but fell to Mulwala last weekend.
In the football, Congupna (1-1) will enter the match as a heavy favourite over a Rumbalara side going through a rebuild.
