Dubbo will host a sporting event the likes of which has never been seen anywhere in the state this June long weekend.
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The National Indigenous Touch Football Knockout will be played out at Caltex Park, with teams from all over Australia set to light up the complex.
While NSW and other states such as Queensland have held similar events in the past, none have been a national event run with the support of Touch Australia while there will be a huge amount of services on offer for everyone involved.
As well as the support of Touch NSW and Touch Australia, the event will be run by the Wellington Aboriginal Corporation Health Service’s Quit B Fit – Tackling Indigenous Smoking Program and the Manly Sea Eagles in conjunction with Dubbo Regional Council.
“We want the event to hopefully become a flagship event in the future and be something like the rugby league knockout that is held on the October long weekend every year and we’re really trying to promote healthy living,” Quit B Fit Event and Promotions Officer Samantha Ah See said.
The Knockout was launched at Caltex Park on Wednesday, with Dubbo winning hosting rights due to its central location and also its proven track record in hosting major sporting events, the 2015 Koori Knockout a perfect example of that.
Manly Sea Eagles enforcer Darcy Lussick was also on hand at the event alongside a number of WACHS and Quit B Fit workers and he said there is no doubt a huge amount of talent will be on show.
...it should be a great standard of football.
- Manly Sea Eagle Darcy Lussick
“It should be, there’s a lot of great young kids from country towns and what better way to showcase their skills than a bit knockout and there should be a big crowd and plenty of participants,” he said.
“I’ve been out here (to Dubbo) a fair few times and there’s a lot of junior teams playing and the whole community gets behind it which is great to see and it should be a great standard of football.”
Lussick, a former City origin player who is approaching a return to action following pre-season wrist surgery, added he would be keen to be in Dubbo for the Knockout.
“I thought it was a great program and kids get to have fun and hear a good message,” he added, with a number of health services to be on hand at Caltex Park during the competition.
There will be a huge amount of action on the field come tournament time, with teams from all over the country to do battle in the hope of becoming a national champion.
The competition will have men’s, women’s, mixed and junior divisions with the latter featuring under 12, under 15 and under 17 age groups.
The event will begin on Friday, June 9.