PENSHURST Football Netball Club is excited to announce for the first time in the club’s history, it will be celebrating First Nations culture, with Richmond premiership star, Marlion Pickett, to headline this year’s Indigenous game.

 In a club first and an unprecedented move for the Mininera & District Football League, senior men’s teams will wear a specially designed First Nations guernsey.

All netball grades will join in celebrating First Nations wearing their own specially designed bibs for the day.

 The day of celebrations will see a host of family fun activities and once-in-a-lifetime auction items as Penshurst tackles Tatyoon on Saturday, June 24.

 Former Essendon FC star, Nathan Lovett-Murray, will also make his debut as one of nine Penshurst First Nations players across the senior men’s and reserves football matches.

 Penshurst reserves captain, Andrew Vella, is the instigator and driving force behind the initiative and after first taking the idea to the club it has built from there.

“For me, the way this all came about was more me wanting to repay the club, for the way in which they have welcomed not only me and my family to the club, but the way they’ve embraced all (of) us mob from Geelong,” Vella said.

“Providing a safe space for us to play our footy and enjoy the social aspect of it also without any judgement or being treated any differently to anyone else playing at the club.

“When I brought the idea up to Trevor (Mibus) the club’s footy director, he pretty much straight away said ‘yes, let’s make this happen’, which was huge in itself, but just to watch the way it’s been grasped by everyone around the club and to see the momentum it has gained, it’s been phenomenal. 

“It’s going to be such a special day for us First Nations boys and the club, and something that the club can look back at and just be so proud.”

The Board of Management at Penshurst FNC had no hesitation to holding such an event that is so pertinent to the club’s Mission Statement, which reads in part; “The Penshurst Football Netball Club exists to provide an enjoyable successful sporting and social environment with a commitment to strong family and community values.”

Vella is great friends with Pickett and Paddy Ryder (former AFL player), and when he asked each to be involved, they said yes very quickly although originally, Lovett-Murray wasn’t up for playing but Vella worked on his man until he wore him down.

“Nathan said no to playing at first, but after a couple of lunches and catch ups over coffee he jumped on board and is really looking forward to pulling the red and black hoops on,” Vella said.

“This is a big thing that comes straight from the heart, where we are looking to bridge the gap in society and its all about unity and coming together for everyone.

“I would like all the kids to look back on this with a sense of pride, knowing that if they envision something it will happen.

“I would love to see the Mininera District Football League and the Mininera District Netball Association follow up with the benchmark that Penshurst FNC has set, and have the entire competition hold these events.

Club president, Scott Rentsch, was quick to back the initiative and to give support to getting everything in place for the event.

“After working out the finer details, we started putting plans in place to arrange a date and of course, design a special Indigenous playing jumper,” he said.

“Current player and reserves captain, Andrew Vella, has been instrumental in getting the whole concept going and he had some great ideas for the design.

“Many of our Indigenous players came to be at the club through friends and family, with most of them travelling from Geelong to play each week.

“They love the club, and they represent it with enthusiasm and now it’s the clubs turn to celebrate their culture and families with that same attitude.

The club is very proud to unveil this remarkable jumper and for the public to see its first ever Indigenous jumper.

The club has a full set of jumpers for the day, and following the game these jumpers will be made available to the players, supporters, and the wider community.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone involved in making this day happen and look forward to having this an ongoing annual celebration,” Rentsch said.

On the day, sponsored by Wanyaari Aboriginal Consultancy and Wathaurong Aboriginal co-operative,Eastern Maar, will deliver a Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony at 11:45 am, prior to the Reserves match.

Some auction items for the day include a Richmond Dreamtime jumper signed by Pickett and premiership teammates Daniel Rioli and Shai Bolton, plus a 2023 Geelong guernsey signed by the entire team.