Garnduwa was formed in 1991 following a meeting at which interested Indigenous sport and recreation community-minded people work-shopped what was needed for Kimberley people to participate more in activities. It has grown from a purely representative body to an organisation that represents all Kimberley people in delivering selected programs.

These programs include the Kickstart program for the AFL, an Indigenous Sport program for the Australian Sports Commission and the Department of Sport and Recreation, Women in Sport, basketball, athletics, and the Be Active program. The most successful program is the Garnduwa remote communities Sporting and Cultural Festival, an annual event that attracts remote Indigenous communities from across the northern regions of Australia to attend for a four-day bonanza of music, dance, football, basketball and athletics. Newcrest was approached in 2005 to help sponsor the festival, as Pilbara teams from Jigalong, Punmu and Yandeyarra were keen to participate. Many people from the Western Desert region identify with Fitzroy Crossing as a place where they can gather to meet and feel comfortable in participating in the festival. Newcrest has supported the festival for the past two years and is likely to continue its association with an event that promotes sport and cultural activities, control of alcohol consumption, and respect for the individual.

The most recent Garnduwa Festival reached a climactic end as local and nationallyacclaimed band Fitzroy Express belted out
their song expressing how good it was to be at “Home, Sweet Home.”

This was after 65 football matches, 48 basketball games, three traditional dance performances, a contemporary dance group and 19 bands and musical performers strutted their stuff over four hot summer nights and days. The 14 Garnduwa Festival transformed Fitzroy Crossing from a sleepy Kimberley outback town to the centre of life for over 40 remote communities and about 2500 people. Two grades of football with 14 teams from as far away as Cotton Creek in the Western Desert to Charnley River on the northern Kimberley coast battled out for the bragging rights as Garnduwa champions. In the B grade, Lugarparja, from the Fitzroy Valley, beat close neighbours Looma in a thrilling grand final by 3 points. The standard of football in the A grade was outstanding over all four days of competition. Wirrumanu, better known as Balgo, defeated local Fitzroy team Ngalapita by 18 points in an entertaining grand final. It was Wirrumanu’s first championship win. Thirteen women’s basketball teams played over three days and nights in searing 40 degree temperatures. The B grade final was one of the all-time best seen at any carnival, with three extra time periods played before Kalumburu and the Bayulu Pumas could be separated, the Puma’s winning by a solitary point with only seconds left in the third period.

The Junjuwa girls were too strong in the A Grade, winning comfortably and maintaining a strong winning record at this event. The traditional welcome to country by the Bunuba elders and dancers was a highlight. The recognition of the traditional owners and community elders by over 700 participants in the smoking ceremony reflected the respect for the cultural linkage between young and old required in a contemporary event such as this. The Yam dance by the ladies, and the Majarta dancers, presented some powerful images, backed by a large group of singers. Young bands, such as the Looma school band, performed proudly in front of a large and appreciative crowd. During the festival, 11 groups and performers graced the stage under the close management of local musical icon, Danny Jinderah. Friday afternoon saw the Broome Sports Power relay challenge won by the Kundat Djaru Cats team of fleet footed runners in the 4 x 100 metre relay. The Junjuwa girls proved too quick for the Looma girls in the women’s 4 x 75 metre challenge.

Friday’s big band night lived up to its expectation. Well-known community bands such as the Balgo band, de Billart Boys, the Sonic band and Fitzroy Express helped 2500 people rock the night away. Festival coordinator Geoff Davis thanked the major sponsors Healthway, Lotteries Commission, Leedal, Marra Worra Worra, Argyle Diamonds, Newcrest Mining and the Shire of Derby for their support with the festival. He also thanked the local Fitzroy people for being such friendly hosts.

Proposal for grassed oval at Jigalong

A grassed oval at the Jigalong Community may become a reality next year.

Representatives from the Department of Sport and Recreation, the East Pilbara Shire, the Jigalong Community, the Indigenous Coordination Centre and Newcrest are considering the proposal. If successful, the project would be partly funded through the State Government’s Community Sporting and Recreation Facilities Fund.

The independent CSRFF Advisory Committee’s regional communities representative is Newcrest’s Community Relations Superintendent Leon van Erp. A feasibility study will be conducted and will investigate the local soil types, water sources and water bore needs. The grassed oval proposal is part of a comprehensive study as part of the Western Desert Sports Development Plan.