Community Hockey celebration of Rene Archer Indigenous Round CairnsJune 27, 2023

It has been 3 years since Cairns Hockey took the Australia lead and began celebrating the contributions of our First Nations people and culture to our local and regional hockey communities. Acknowledging Rene Archer Indigenous Round is now firmly fixed into the Cairns Hockey calendar and on the 23rd June 2023, Cairns Hockey and their partner Aspire Cairns Community celebrated some great milestones.

It was wonderful to see our Aspire First Nation players embrace the opportunity to deliver Acknowledgement to Country. It was fantastic to listen to Jess Fatnowna describe her Aspire journey and finally presenting the indigenous shirts to club representatives reinforced how important this is each year.

The special announcement made by Cairns Hockey President John Watts confirming extension of Aspire to be Deadly Funding until 31st Dec 2025 was received with positive affirmation. Thanks to Warren Entsch MHR for his commitment to Aspire to be Deadly and Cairns Hockey. Thanks to the clubs and the members for embracing these opportunities. Finally thanks to our major strategy, training and delivery partner ACCL for bringing sustainability to this program, BDO Nth Qld, Just Hockey, Hockey Australia and Oceania Hockey Federation for continuing their support and local, state and national collaborations all of which make Aspire to be Deadly drive the LIVE WELL LEARN WELL LEAD WELL outcomes.