Five years in and Inverell has finally taken home the gold in the Aboriginal Elders Olympic Games.
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“We said we were bringing it home, so we did!” Priscilla Brown said.
“It took a long time to win this!”
Inverell’s Gomeroi Elders United and Bear Eaters, made up 27 local elders, were thrilled to show off their medals when they stepped off the bus to greet excited family members last Friday. The group had scored an unprecedented 17, 786 points, beating their closest rivals by around 800 points.
Around 500 elders in 24 teams took on the challenge at Speers Point, Lake Macquarie. In a series of fast-moving 10-minute games, the Olympians showed off their skills in quoits, bean bag throwing and a hockey relay.
Inverell’s best score was earned by throwing footballs through hoops as quickly as possible, with five players earning 186 points each.
“It must be just watching all the nephews, I think,” volunteer helper Miranda Binge said.
We said we were bringing it home, so we did!
- Priscilla Brown
Joanne Dodd enjoyed her first stint in the games and said the bean bag throwing was her favourite.
“I met a lot of fantastic elders down there and everybody just mixed in together. It was fantastic,” she said.
Elaine Binge said the win was all about determination, and that the elders were excited to finally show off Inverell as next year’s hosts.
“This is the first time it’s been off the coastline,” she said.
“They want to see our country now. We’ve been down to their country for the last five years. (We’re) bringing them home to our town, our country.”
“They want to see a gathering of elders, this is where you will see them. The biggest gathering of elders you will ever see.”
The group hopes to see more elders in the New England area sign up for next year’s event.
Miranda thanked the many sponsors who helped local elders participate.