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Wendy Cox volunteer manager at Ramingining Miyalkurruwung Co-operative Op-Shop, with a van load of donations. Picture: Wendy Cox / Supplied.
Wendy Cox volunteer manager at Ramingining Miyalkurruwung Co-operative Op-Shop, with a van load of donations. Picture: Wendy Cox / Supplied.

Ramingining kids get a new look footy team thanks to Qld donation

A grassroots push to establish Ramingining’s first youth footy team has received a major boost, thanks to a generous donation from Queensland’s Sunshine Coast Caloundra Junior AFL Club.

The remote Arnhem Land community, located 580km east of Darwin and around 3,800 km from Caloundra, has long embraced the Territory’s love for Aussie rules.

The Ramingining Miyalkurruwung Co-operative Op-shop is thrilled to present the 2025 football team, proudly representing Ramingining. Picture: The Remote OpShops Project / Supplied.
The Ramingining Miyalkurruwung Co-operative Op-shop is thrilled to present the 2025 football team, proudly representing Ramingining. Picture: The Remote OpShops Project / Supplied.

However until now, local children had no dedicated team of their own.

That’s changing, with efforts underway to form an under-14s squad — an initiative that has been met with excitement from the town’s kids.

Ramingining Local Authority member and footy advocate Fabian Garawirrtja is working with the Council’s Youth Sports and Recreation team to lock in a coach and playing opportunities against nearby communities.

“Footy is big here, the kids love it,” he said.

“I tell these young kids, one day you could play in the NTFL … in AFL … or even NRL.”

Fabian Garawirrtja a member of the Ramingining Local Authority and a figure of the community holding a donated football guernsey. Picture: The Remote OpShops Project / Supplied.
Fabian Garawirrtja a member of the Ramingining Local Authority and a figure of the community holding a donated football guernsey. Picture: The Remote OpShops Project / Supplied.

The breakthrough moment came when Caloundra Junior AFL Club discovered nearly 300 footy items — boots, guernseys, and shorts — during a club clean-up.

Former club secretary Belinda Robinson saw an opportunity to make a difference.

“I had seen the Remote OpShop Facebook page and thought, ‘Why not reach out to rural communities?’” Ms Robinson said.

“We ended up sending 10 parcels to different communities, including Ramingining.”

Wendy Cox, volunteer manager of the Ramingining Miyalkurruwung Co-operative Op-Shop, stored the donated gear safely through the wet season, ready for the team to use in 2025.

“The community is very, very happy — especially the kids,” Mr Garawirrtja said.

“Thank you very much.”

The Ramingining Miyalkurruwung Co-operative Op-Shop, the beloved op-shop that locals frequent either getting essential basic supplies free of charge or for very little cost. Picture: Wendy Cox / Supplied.
The Ramingining Miyalkurruwung Co-operative Op-Shop, the beloved op-shop that locals frequent either getting essential basic supplies free of charge or for very little cost. Picture: Wendy Cox / Supplied.

Ms Cox, known fondly as ‘Yapa’ by locals, has run the op-shop single-handedly for six years.

While footy gear is the latest win, the shop has been a lifeline for Ramingining, supplying clothing, blankets, and essentials where needed.

“It’s a community op-shop — one day I’d love for it to be run by the Indigenous,” she said.

“People are so generous, and nothing goes to waste.”

With their new gear ready to go, the next step for Ramingining’s kids is to take to the field.

And for many, this is just the beginning of their footy dream.

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Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/ramingining-kids-get-a-new-look-footy-team-thanks-to-qld-donation/news-story/b11ad17762ce185948898d7ed906aa40