The West Coast Eagles received an invitation to take part in community events in Warburton and Laverton, joining in on and assisting youth engagement activations and NAIDOC week celebrations.

The two trips differed in their objectives, but both achieved fantastic outcomes in deepening the Club’s connection to the Goldfields region.

The aim of the first visit to Warburton was to assist in involving and engaging youth and the wider community, with Eagles staff facilitating Eagles Freestyle Footy sessions and education delivery.

This is the Club’s first visit to Warburton, a community located 1,500km North-East of Perth made up of 11 communities and covering 160,000 square kilometres of land.

The West Coast Eagles worked alongside regional stakeholders in the Stephen Michael Foundation, The Department of Communities and the Ngaanyatjarra Council Group throughout the week, providing a variety of engagement activities including sports, arts and crafts, and cooking with approximately 25-40 kids engaged per day.

Goldfields Community Coordinator Gabby Moran was invited to Warburton by Creating Communities Australia, providing an opportunity for the Club and key stakeholders to engage with the Warburton youth and community leaders during the school holidays.

“These stakeholders have a fantastic connection with the community up there, so it was really good to connect our brands to deliver some great experiences for them during the school holidays,” Moran said.

“It was an awesome opportunity to connect with the kids and the community in Warburton through a whole range of activities across the day with sport, dancing and healthy eating activities to keep them active and engaged.

“This is the first time the West Coast Eagles have visited Warburton so to see kids walking around in their blue and gold Eagles kit just highlighted the impact of the Club in regional communities across WA.”

The trip deepened the Club’s connection to First Nations culture and the land through sport and on-country experiences by providing morning to evening activities for kids during the school holidays working alongside new and ongoing stakeholders.

The following week, the West Coast Eagles were invited up to Laverton by the Pakaanu Aboriginal Corporation for NAIDOC week celebrations, assisting with a variety of engagement activities over five days, providing an opportunity for stakeholders to come together to celebrate community and culture.

“The Club has an existing relationship with these towns in the Goldfields, so it was great to deepen that connection by being part of the celebration of their land and culture," Moran said.

“We’ve had players in our Naitanui Academy come through these towns so there’s quite a strong connection to the region’s First Nation’s culture.

“For the community to invite the Club to join their NAIDOC celebrations just shows the appreciation they have for the work we have done within the region, and it was quite special for me personally to be part it.” 

The week began with an education and cultural awareness session including a community day and an overnight stay on country, as well as listening to elders in the community speak on their experience growing up in Laverton and their connection to the land and the sky.

The people involved were able to participate in cooking food and learning to braid from community members before a two-day Junior and Senior football carnival hosted by the Stephen Michael foundation, with teams from Leinster, Laverton and Leonora participating.

Moran assisted throughout the five-day activations supporting key event stakeholders in setting up, umpiring and scoring the games.

“From a personal perspective it feels very special to be invited to participate in these events and it means a lot to know I’ve built a strong relationship and connection to the culture and community,” Moran said.

The West Coast Eagles would like to thank our Youth Engagement Partner BHP, Pakaanu Aboriginal Corporation, Stephen Michael Foundation and the wider Goldfields communities for immersing staff in the activities and celebrations throughout the week.