Netball Australia apologises to Helena Higgins and Jemma Mi Mi after Queensland Firebirds snub during Indigenous Round
Red-faced Netball Australia has apologised Queensland Firebirds’ first Indigenous player Helena Higgins and also current player Jemma Mi Mi as condemnation of the present player’s treatment grew louder.
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Netball Australia chief executive Marne Fechner has apologised to the Queensland Firebirds’ first Aboriginal player Helena Higgins for her “negative experiences” in the sport and says it’s unacceptable that Super Netball has only one current Indigenous player in Jemma Mi Mi.
Higgins, known as Helena Saunders during her playing career, on Tuesday called for Super Netball’s Indigenous Round to be scrapped unless the sport truly embraced the Indigenous community.
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Higgins — whose comments came after Mi Mi received no court time for the Firebirds in the club’s Indigenous round weekend win over the Vixens in Cairns despite being used heavily in promoting the event — said she had also been used for “just media purposes” during her career.
“In 1998, Queensland Netball decided that I was going to be the face of netball in the state,” Higgins wrote on the IndigenousX website.
“I was required to attend different functions with the then CEO Michelle Buck. We went to the 1998 Gold Coast Indy, but I honestly felt like I was the token Indigenous girl at these events.
“I feel for this young player (Mi Mi). All of us previous Indigenous players have been there and it seems like the sport has not changed and this is the reason I will not participate in netball.”
Fechner said racism was unacceptable and that everyone in netball deserved the chance to “reach their potential on and off the court”.
“Netball apologises sincerely to Helena for her negative experiences within the netball system,” Fechner said.
“Netball Australia acknowledges that strong Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participation rates and talent within our grassroots and state competitions is not translating into our elite pathway and that there are systemic barriers in place that need to be addressed.
“It’s not acceptable that Jemma Mi Mi is the only Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander player within the Suncorp Super Netball league and Netball Australia acknowledges that the next generation of players, coaches and umpires can’t be what they can’t see.”
Super Netball chief executive Chris Symington understood Higgins’ call for the Indigenous Round to be scrapped but said it would continue.
“Currently the Suncorp Super Netball Indigenous Round provides an opportunity to celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and acknowledge the contribution that many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders play across the entire netball system and we plan for this round to continue in future years,” Symington said.
Fechner said a “State of the Game” review was helping Netball Australia address the lack of opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to “reach their full potential in our game”.
“This starts in community and goes through to the Diamonds,” she said.
NETBALL FIREBIRDS LASHED FOR INDIGENOUS ROUND SNUB
Queensland Firebirds coach Roselee Jencke admits she “misread community expectations” in failing to give Super Netball’s only indigenous player — Jemma Mi Mi — court time in the competition’s indigenous round.
Mi Mi, who was heavily used in the promotion of the round, watched from the sidelines for the entirety of the Firebirds’ upset 64-58 win over minor premiers the Melbourne Vixens on Sunday in Cairns.
Newcastle-born Mi Mi – who currently isn’t considered to be part of the full-strength Firebirds line-up – seemed ready to enter the contest in the dying stages when Lara Dunkley was suffering from cramp.
But Dunkley recovered and the game ended soon after.
Jencke’s decision not to give Mi Mi any court time – particularly for a Firebirds side out of finals contention – was a point of contention.
Former Firebirds captain Sharon Finnan-White – one of just two indigenous players to represent the Diamonds — did not hide her disappointment.
Incredible work ​on the Queensland Firebirds #SSNIndigenousRound dress design. Can't wait to see it on the court on Sunday! pic.twitter.com/LErnbq3sGI
— Suncorp Super Netball (@SuperNetball) September 18, 2020
“Jemma Mi Mi is a role model for all Indigenous people. She can use her media profile to inspire our younger generation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander players. You can’t be inspired by what you can’t see. She should have been afforded more respect and consideration,” Finnan-White tweeted.
Jemma Mi Mi is a role model for all Indigenous people. She can use her media profile to inspire our younger generation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander players. You can’t be inspired by what you can’t see. She should have been afforded more respect and consideration.
— Sharon Finnan-White OAM (@FinnanWhite) September 20, 2020
Channel 9 commentator Sue Gaudion said on the broadcast: “I know she’s (Dunkley’s) only a youngster, but if it was me I’d walk off the court and let Mi Mi come on. Not to be.”
Gaudion later tweeted: “On reflection … no … on reflection I probably would have gone harder! I think all athletes and all coaches should have enough awareness and education to understand that moment, or to be honest an earlier opportunity.”
We are so proud of Jem and all that she represents.
— Queensland Firebirds (@FirebirdsQld) September 18, 2020
An outstanding role model. https://t.co/zuy7pdG2FU
Gaudion also hailed Mi Mi’s contribution to the win even though she did not play.
“Look it would be great to see her on the court and sadly even at the end the opportunity was missed … but at the same time the Firebirds had plenty to play for and that win will be attributed as much to Mi Mi even with her not on the court,” she tweeted.
The Firebirds finally broke their silence on the matter late on Monday night via statement
after Jencke, CEO Catherine Clark and team captain Gabi Simpson had earlier failed to return phone calls to News Corp Australia.
“Our team selection for Sunday’s game was part of our strategy for the season and was made collectively by the coaches and the leadership group based on performance,” Jencke said.
“The decision not to put Jemma on the court was the right one from a game strategy perspective, however we misread community expectations and the significance of Jemma’s court time in the game in this round.
“The contribution that Jemma makes to the Firebirds is far more powerful than a single game. Her contribution to our team, our club and our players extends to every round of the season, on and off the court.
“Jemma has and continues to develop our cultural awareness and has shared with her teammates her own cultural journey as a proud Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander woman. We are very proud that Jemma is a Firebird.
“As the only indigenous player in the Suncorp Super Netball, Jemma feels a huge responsibility.
“Her wellbeing is our paramount concern and we ask that she be given space to process this in her own time.”
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Originally published as Netball Australia apologises to Helena Higgins and Jemma Mi Mi after Queensland Firebirds snub during Indigenous Round