The fourth edition of the National Indigenous Tennis Carnival (NITC) in Darwin concluded on Sunday, with Wiradjuri tennis legend Evonne Goolagong Cawley and Tennis NT President and Kamilaroi man Steve Rossingh on hand to present the champions with their trophies.
Celebrating the cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people through tennis, the NITC was first launched in 2018 and is an annual four-day event centred around culture, community, tennis, education and wellbeing.
South Australia’s Jayden Kemp was presented with the event’s highest individual honour, the Evonne Goolagong Cawley Medal of Excellence for his outstanding leadership, connection, and behaviour on-and-off court. Teammate Malachi Varcoe was announced as the South Australian winner of the peer voted ‘Deadly Awards’.
As a team, South Australia finished third in the Ash Barty Cup for participation and effort, and finished as runners up in the Future Stars tournament.
“It’s such an honour to be awarded the Evonne Goolagong Cawley Medal of Excellence,” Kemp said.
“This event was very special. We did a bunch of different things including cultural activities which really got us connected to the land. Sadly our friends from Canteen Creek weren’t here with us this year, but we really connected with the Tiwi Island kids.
“I am super proud of the team. Seeing these people open up, grow and have a lot of fun is what this is all about.
“I first took part in the NITC when I was 14 years old and I was lucky enough to be the runner up in the 14-and-under event that year. Last year, going back and meeting everyone again was amazing and to be a part of the team to win the Ash Barty Cup was a huge honour.
“Being my last year in the team, I really wanted to make this year special. I did have the idea of the medal in my head before going to Darwin, but I never imagined actually getting it. It was pretty special to hear my name called out.”
National Indigenous Tennis Carnival 2023 final results
Team South Australia
Madison Ah Chee
Jamain Agius
Mia Dodd
Jayden Kemp
Keeral McKenzie
Namallari McKenzie
Sam Todd
Sophie Todd
Malachi Varcoe
Matthew Fitzgerald – Team Manager
Jessica Gardner – Team Manager
18-and-under championships
Girls: [1] Giselle Kawane (Qld) def. [2] Sophie Foster (NSW) 6-1 6-1
Boys: [1] Charlie Pade (NSW) def. [2] Quincy Kahn (NSW) 6-0 6-1
14-and-under championships
Mixed: [1] Lewis Murray (Vic) def. [2] Ryan Bolger (Qld) 5-3 Ret.
Evonne Goolagong Cawley Medal of Excellence (leadership)
Jayden Kemp (SA)
Ash Barty Cup (aggregate best performing on-court team)
New South Wales
Deadly Award winners (peer voted)
ACT: Xavier Williams-Arena
NSW: Jacob Issaoui Slade
Qld: Kelsey Weribone
SA: Malachi Varcoe
Vic: Tyrese Walsh
Tas: Hunter Richardson
WA: Mitch Durant
NT: Kimally Puruntatameri (Tiwi Islands)
Additional information on the 2023 NITC
- Launched in 2018, the National Indigenous Tennis Carnival was founded by Tennis Australia with support from Tennis NT, Evonne Goolagong Cawley, the Evonne Goolagong Cawley Foundation and its CEO Roger Cawley
- More than 160 participants travelled to Darwin for the 2023 National Indigenous Tennis Carnival from every state and territory including six Northern Territory communities: Utopia, Ngukurr, Warrumiyanga (Tiwi Islands), Jabiru, Palmerston, and Woolianna
- The carnival features two streams – one for participation (teams’ competition), and another for performance (tournament), in both the 14/u and 18/u age groups
- A Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony was conducted by Larrakia Traditional Owner Lynette Fejo
- Participants took part in a variety of cultural and wellbeing activities throughout the event including basket weaving, painting, dancing, spear throwing and health workshops and education sessions
- Participants were treated to a special performance by BARKAA.
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