East Fremantle Football Club takes steps towards Reconciliation

The East Fremantle Football Club (EFFC) is recognising Reconciliation Week (27 May – 3 June) by holding the first meeting of its Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) working group, launching its NAIDOC Guernsey Design Competition, and offering their 2013 NAIDOC Jumpers for sale to the public for the first time.

EFFC recognises the important role that community sports groups play in working towards reconciliation and, with guidance and assistance from Club sponsor Kart Koort Wiern, will begin developing their first RAP and will hold the first meeting of its RAP working group on May 29th. The Club will be engaging other members of the community, both indigenous and non-indigenous, to advise on the development of the RAP, including past players, their families, staff, volunteers, members and community groups. Anyone interested in being part of the process should contact the Club.

Ingrid Cumming, CEO of Kart Koort Wiern has plenty of experience in developing RAPs with clients and is donating her time and expertise to assist the Club with theirs. Ingrid said: “In my time with EFFC, I am assured that ??the EFFC is passionate to create and develop strong ties and ongoing commitments to not only the Noongar community but Yamatji and the many Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander communities around Australia. Through the RAP process, we will identify what sorts of opportunities for youth, women and men we can offer those who wish to pursue a career with the ?Football ?Club, ? in the spirit of closing the gap and reconciliation?. ?Kart Koort Wiern is very pleased with what we have achieved in collaboration with the Club so far and the continued successes we will have together ?within EFFC.”

The CEO of the EFFC, Adam Kelly will lead the RAP process. “The formal commencement of the Reconciliation Action Planning process at EFFC is an important event for the Club in our pursuit of an inclusive environment that acknowledges cultural difference and equips the Club to embrace diversity, in a manner that reflects its significance and importance.  We look forward to the process, the enlightenment, challenging the way we have traditionally operated and closing of the gap between the Club and our indigenous community.  We have been encouraged by the open and constructive conversations with Kart Koort Wiern which have led to the formation of the Working Group and thank Ingrid as a valued partner of the Club for her leadership toward reconciliation” he said.

The Club encourages members of the community who would like to have input into the process to contact the Club, as there will be a Community Advisory Group formed to ensure that the RAP outcomes are relevant to and inclusive of all parts of the Community.

Following on from the success of last year’s competition, the Sharks are again asking Primary School aged children from the East Fremantle District to send in their designs for the jumper to be worn by the team on July 5th- NAIDOC Round. Last year the competition was won by Daniel Wallington of Banksia Park Primary and Bullcreek Leeming JFC. Daniel led the team onto the ground at the NAIDOC game in his own NAIDOC jumper, was presented with a framed guernsey for his school at an assembly, and had a visit from Sharks players at his footy training.

Entries must be received by June 4th and the entry form is available from the Club or online

The jumpers worn in last year’s game  are now available to purchase from the Club for $75. These are strictly limited and a list of available numbers is available from the Club. Where the player is still available, the purchaser may request that the original player signs the jumper.

East Fremantle plays Perth in the WAFL NAIDOC Round to be held on Saturday July 5th at East Fremantle Oval. Both teams will wear their NAIDOC guernsey at this game.