Ash Barty spent time interacting and connecting with young Aboriginal tennis players at the National Aboriginal Tennis Carnival, creating memories that will last a lifetime for those who attended.
Darwin (Larrakia), Northern Territory, 16 August 2024 | Rhys de Deugd
Last week, 184 Aboriginal young people from across the Great Southern Land gathered at Larrakia Country for an unforgettable tennis experience.
The National Indigenous Tennis Carnival (NITC) returns to the Darwin International Tennis Centre for its fifth year and biggest tennis and cultural celebration in history.
Evonne Goolagong Cawley, who played a key role in creating the event each year and growing it into what it is today, attended every year. But in 2024, she had a special surprise to share with the kids on day two of the carnival.
The seven-time Grand Slam singles champion walked onto Centre Court hand-in-hand with his good friend, longtime student and proud Nagorno-mare, Ash Barty, and was greeted by a roar of applause from the bright-eyed players.
For Baty, the day was a special opportunity to connect and give back to the young people who love every moment.
“I’m so happy to finally be joining them,” said the former world number one.
“It’s a really special event, bringing people together and celebrating more than just tennis.”
With participants and staff from every state and territory across Australia, NITC is essentially a celebration of cultural sharing and connection.
The first day of the event is traditionally marked by an annual cultural exchange event, a prelude to a week of events aimed at developing stronger bonds between all participating groups.
The exchange is a beautiful ritual where each participant tells a story about where they come from, and some teams choose to share artwork that showcases the traditions of their land.
Bringing young indigenous people together through their love of tennis 🖤💛❤️
Boasting amazing guests and record-breaking turnout, the 2024 National Aboriginal Tennis Carnival is the biggest and best yet.#NITC24 pic.twitter.com/VQecnfo4BD
— TennisAustralia (@TennisAustralia) August 16, 2024
“I think it’s important to be sensitive to our culture and really embrace it and share it and connect with other tribes across the country,” Barty said.
“I think storytelling is a really important part of this week because it’s such a powerful way for people to connect.”
To pay tribute to the traditional owners of Darwin’s lands and to showcase their traditions to all who gather, a local artist from Larrakia has created a trophy to be awarded to the state or territory that has performed the best at the carnival.
“It’s really important to know the country you’re in. Obviously, it’s exciting in Larraquia because we get to celebrate their culture, their artists, and everything that comes from this land,” Barty explained.
“It’s just about enjoying each other’s company in an event that celebrates our heritage and culture. It’s really exciting to be with so many kids from all over the country.”
The ‘Ash Barty Cup’ is named in honour of the 2022 Australian Open Champions and is awarded to the team that contributes the most points across all levels of tennis at the NITC.
From the first person to pick up a racquet to Australia’s top Indigenous player to compete in the ‘Showdown’ tournament, Victoria has been awarded the Cup for its outstanding achievements across all sectors of the sport this year.
READ > Evonne Goolagong Cawley crowned 2024 National Indigenous Tennis Carnival champion
“The Ash Barty Cup is a wonderful trophy created by a local artist (from Larraquia). It’s absolutely stunning.”
“I think what’s really cool is that it’s not just an individual award, it’s a cup that represents the best state on the court (event) as a whole.”
“From Red Ball to Under-18, it’s kind of a collective team title and I love the connection of team sports and being able to work and collaborate together, so it’s really special.”
More than 1,000 participants took part in 17 lead-in events last year as part of Tennis Australia’s plan to expand tennis pathways for Indigenous Australians in each state and territory.
NITC serves as a grand finale to celebrate culture on a national stage and engage with communities as far afield as Nhulunbuy, Utopia and the Big Rivers Region.
Ash Barty signs her mural. Ash Barty visits the NITTC. Day 2 of the 2024 National Indigenous Tennis Carnival at the Darwin International Tennis Centre on Friday, August 9, 2024. Mandatory photo courtesy of Tennis Australia/ FIONA HAMILTON
Interacting with children across the country and bringing smiles to their faces is what brings Barty the most joy out of this entire experience.
“For many of these kids, this is their first time on an airplane,” she said.
“My favorite thing about it is being able to interact with the kids and go out on the court with them and play.
“Everything is fun for me. I enjoy interacting with children.”
Attendees were also treated to live performances by ARIA Award-winning artist Jessica Moboy and local rapper J-Milla, making the five-yearly NITC one of the most memorable events of the year to date.
Barty is excited to see how the event, which brings kids together to pick up rackets and learn from each other, will evolve.
“It wasn’t just about growing in tennis, but we started looking at different ways we could provide the kids with educational tools and help them learn about what the future holds and the different paths they can take,” she said.
“It’s a great event with so much more than just tennis, which is what makes it so unique and special.”
Find out how to play: Visit play.tennis.com.au Get out there and have fun!
