Written by Amelia Barnes
Belinda Hayden has long been involved with the Budgies National Indigenous Netball Carnival — the annual netball competition held for First Nations players.
The location of the carnival changes annually, with the last event held at the Gold Coast Recreation Precinct on January 10-15, 2023.
“Budgies have been around since 2004, I was one of the original members,” says Hayden. “[We] started this off for all our young women to have a better opportunity and to excel at a level they can compete in.”
Over the years, Hayden has taken up roles as a Budgies coach, manager, and selector, as well as a parent and grandparent of various participating players.
This year, her grandsons Kiaan Kickett and Mingara Clark both played in Victorian Indigenous Netball’s mixed 12/U team, and her granddaughter Alkira Clark played in the girls 18/U team.
In 2023, Hayden added a new role to her résumé, becoming the inaugural Open Boys coach representing Victorian Indigenous Netball when Budgies introduced an Open Boys division for the first time.
Boys in the Victorian team ranged from between 12 and 16 years in age who responded to Hayden’s experienced and measured style of coaching.
“I am a fair coach and give each and every person a go ... I am hard but stern, but also a quiet and very softly spoken coach,” Hayden said.
“The boys were amazing. They listened, they encouraged, and they played with their hearts.”
Prior to Budgies, none of Victoria’s male players had previously played in an organised national carnival.
With more experience and opportunities, Hayden says the team will be a force to be reckoned with.
“We had no training, no experience, and [the players had] no knowledge of where they can go on the netball court, but by the end of the carnival, it was like they played netball together as a team in their hometown,” she said.
“They boys did their family and I proud. I can honestly tell you I didn’t think we would win a game, but to my surprise, we made the semi finals against South Australia, who were the favourites, and [we only] lost to them by one goal.”
Based on the success of their participation in the 2023 carnival, Hayden says boys will be invited back to play in the 2024 Budgies event.
Hayden said Budgies is a great opportunity that provides First Nations players with a better understanding of the netball pathways and their potential.
“It gives all our First Nations girls and boys the opportunity to play at a higher level and showcase their talents and ability to compete against other Mob.”
Hayden anticipates further interest will drive more male age divisions at Budgies for players such as her grandson, Kiaan, who will be ineligible to play in 2024. “He loved it, but will be too old to play in the mixed team and too young for the senior boys team in 2024,” she explains.
Hayden hopes that the accessibility of pathways for First Nations players will also continue to improve as a result of Netball Australia’s First Nations Advisory Committee.
Find out more about Victorian Indigenous Netball, who participate in the annual Budgies National Indigenous Netball Carnival, via their Facebook group
