Red Hill and Crib Point compete in first reconciliation game on the Mornington Peninsula

History was made when Red Hill Football Netball Club held the first reconciliation game on the Mornington Peninsula last Saturday.

Players line-up at the reconciliation game at Red Hill last Saturday.

History was made when Red Hill Football Netball Club held the first reconciliation game on the Mornington Peninsula last Saturday.

Red Hill hosted Crib Point, the two clubs joining forces to promote awareness of local Aboriginal history and culture and reconciliation between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal local community members.

Both clubs wore indigenous jumpers designed by Red Hill indigenous players, Shaydon Bloomfield and Jemelya Gadsby, and there was a welcome to country ceremony held at the start of the day.

Didgeridoos were played before the reconciliation game at Red Hill last Saturday.

“It went really well,’’ Red Hill president Graham Sherry said.

“It’s our first go at it and will be shared annually with Crib Point FNC.

“It took nearly two years to actually get another club involved and Crib Point have been very supportive.

“We have been actively engaged with a number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community groups in the organisation of the event. It was a very active community effort.’’

The day also included cultural art and craft activities, didgeridoo and marngrook football.

The president’s lunch was attended by 100 patrons including local elders and community leaders.

Red Hill player Shaydon Bloomfield helped design the jumpers for the reconciliation game.

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Cultural art and craft displays at the reconciliation game at Red Hill last Saturday.

Sherry said Red Hill now has a draft reconciliation action plan which was launched on the day and will hopefully lead to other clubs and the league formulating their own plans. The Red Hill RAP calls for community input and may be inspected on the club’s website.

“At present we are the only club in the MPNFL and the only club in AFL South East to have a reconciliation action plan,’’ he said.

Sherry said Red Hill would continue the concept next year.

National Reconciliation Week runs from May 27-June 3.