Narrabri netballers compete at Koori Netball Tournament

Each year on the last weekend of October the NSW Department of Sport hosts the Koori Netball Tournament in Charlestown, Newcastle.

The tournament attracts Aboriginal communities from across NSW with an aim of increasing participation of Aboriginal women and men in sport and recreation in a fun and competitive environment.

The tournament is an inclusive event and teams are encouraged to have up to three non-Aboriginal players on their team.

The 2019 tournament marked the 20th anniversary of the Koori Netball Tournament and attracted more than 74 teams from across NSW with more than 1500 people attending the highly-anticipated event.

The Narrabri Shire was represented throughout the weekend.

Malikas under-12s - Back, Menzie Baker-Harvey, Lakita Dever, Jaliriah Glenbar, Ella Croft, Takiyah James, Haley Dever, front, Rya Knox, Lucy Doole-Dunham, Molly Young, Africa Hippi and Rhonda-Lee Roberts. Malikas under-12s - Back, Menzie Baker-Harvey, Lakita Dever, Jaliriah Glenbar, Ella Croft, Takiyah James, Haley Dever, front, Rya Knox, Lucy Doole-Dunham, Molly Young, Africa Hippi and Rhonda-Lee Roberts.

Narrabri Lightning - back, Georgia Smith, Allyssa Toomey, Curtis Booby, Clifford Toomey Junior, Katarnie Toomey, Paula Trindall, front, Telisha Hilderson, Darmeika Hilderson, Leslie Toomey and Zac Simpson. Narrabri Lightning - back, Georgia Smith, Allyssa Toomey, Curtis Booby, Clifford Toomey Junior, Katarnie Toomey, Paula Trindall, front, Telisha Hilderson, Darmeika Hilderson, Leslie Toomey and Zac Simpson.

NetballIMG_9670 Feva Sisters - back, coach Angie Knox, Emmjay Baker, Holly Ford, Jemma Harvey, Lara Sunderland, Amelie Johnson, front, Lyneah Mason, Layne Parker, MacKenzie Knox, Krista Zarka and Amalie Gosper.

Narrabri’s Kasey Hilderson tasted success with his team Malikas.

Hilderson has played with the Mt Druitt-based side Malikas since 2014 and has contested every grand final during the past six years, winning five of the six including back to back titles in 2018 and 2019.

The Malikas Mixed team downed the Gamilaroi Mirris 18-7 in their semi-final showdown, then met the Castlereagh All Blacks in the grand final which won their semi-final 20-5 against Dreamtime United.

In a close contest Malikas Mixed outscored Castlereagh All Blacks 19-16 to win the crown.

Several other Narrabri and Wee Waa players travelled to take part in the weekend with mixed success.

Narrabri Lightning, organised by Lorraine Leonard and Clifford Toomey, played in its second year of the tournament.

The side finished 10th in its pool which meant that it missed out on the finals.

Feva Sisters, coached by Angie Knox, was a team consisting of Narrabri netballers who competed in their first tournament.

They finished eighth in their pool and did not qualify for finals.

Narrabri duo Menzie Baker-Harvey and Rya Knox played in their first tournament for the Malikas under-12s side coached by Hilderson and Naomi Young (Mt Druitt).

The team finished third in its pool and qualified for the semi-finals where it defeated Dreamtime Sisters, a team which defeated Malikas in the normal rounds, 11-10 to progress to the grand final.

The Malikas came up against a strong BNC Teal team in the decider and were defeated 15-8.