women's past, present, future

Karajarri Ranger Sharon Everett enjoying Sea Country. Photo: Annette Ruzicka.

Karajarri Women's Rangers Hayley Mulardy, Roxanne Possum, Sharon Everett & Juana Ejai. Photo: Annette Ruzicka.

"The lives of Ethel Smith and Mona Kielly – two Barada Barna Elders who recently passed – were celebrated over the Australia Day long weekend at the Warba Wangarunya Rugby League Carnival in Rockhampton.

The Warba Wangarunya Carnival, now running for more than a decade, saw two Barada Barna teams sponsored by Whitehaven Coal take the field in a culturally inclusive event with the aim of bringing communities together from across Central Queensland.

This year’s carnival was unlike any other for the Barada Barna who took the opportunity to name their sides after [these] Elders who devoted their lives to their community...

[Ethel Smith] was a strong girl who loved her footy and cricket and was a major Newcastle Knights supporter, hence the jerseys being in the Knights’ colours.

[Mona Kielly] worked her entire life to support and protect her people through Native Title and youth organisations. Aunty Mona was also a strong Broncos supporter which is why the women [on her team] wore maroon and gold.”

Te Arikinui speaks at the 9th Annual First Nations Major Projects Coalition Conference

"If you bumped into Alicia Janz during her work day, you would be met with a megawatt smile and the kind of effervescent energy that feeds off being busy.

So it’s no surprise Janz, pictured, is constantly trading time between her role with the West Coast Eagles women’s side and her work as a mentor and co-ordinator at the Wirrpanda Foundation.

But for the proud Torres Strait Islander, it’s worth sacrificing a bit of work-life balance to be the positive narrative other young women of colour need to hear.