The Newman youth football carnival, previously known as East Pilbara Cup, has entered its third year with an expanded competition and a new name.
Supported by West Coast Eagles, a signatory of the This Is Our Dream Cultural Compact, the carnival has been renamed the Warlawuurru Cup.
Warlawuurru translates to ‘Eagle’ in the Martu language. To acknowledge the contributions of Nyiyaparli and Martu to the region, Nyiyaparli and Martu Elders were consulted when the carnival’s new title was put forward.
With the agreed upon Warlawuurru name being Martu language, members of the Nyiyaparli community will carry out the Welcome to Country to recognise both cultures at the carnival on April 12.
The Warlawuurru Cup has grown year on year, with a team from Exmouth officially becoming the fourth regional community to join the carnival and help build an even stronger competition in 2024.
Changing the name of the East Pilbara Cup to the Warlawuurru Cup is one expression of the Cultural Compact, part of the broader Newman Futures initiative that was launched in 2019 to build a diverse, strong, and connected Newman community that is inclusive to all.
West Coast Eagles are among 30 stakeholders in the Newman and wider Pilbara community looking to provide young male and female players from across the region with the opportunity to represent their local communities in what is for some, the only structured age-appropriate carnival for the year.
West Coast Eagles’ Newman Youth Engagement Coordinator, Brendon Daily, has worked with key stakeholders in the East Pilbara to deepen the connection between the Club and the region.
“By renaming the carnival we recognise where we are in the regions and the proud First Nations culture that exists, whilst also further entrenching the West Coast Eagles as strong members of the community as well,” Brendon said.
“The carnival is in its third year now so it’s becoming a big event on the Newman community calendar,” Daily said.
“With additional teams taking part in the carnival this year we’re actually having to extend the day to fit in more games, so the momentum is definitely building,.” Brendon said.
With the momentum and expansion of the carnival each year, the 2024 event is set to reinforce the commitment of West Coast to football in the Pilbara and their acknowledgement of the land’s traditional owners. It is a powerful example of the vision and aspirations of the Cultural Compact between the Nyiyaparli and Martu.
West Coast has provided a compelling endorsement of the vision for upholding Aboriginal culture and traditions through their approach to collaboration, community and embracing cultural approaches that resonate with the aspirations of the Cultural Compact.
The This Is Our Dream Cultural Compact was forged in June 2020 between Karlka Nyiyaparli Aboriginal Corporation (KNAC) and Jamukurnu Yapalikurnu Aboriginal Corporation (JYAC), supported by Newman Futures.
The Cultural Compact invites individuals and organisations to join together and maps a new pathway of mutual respect for the town.
