In an announcement on Wednesday night by the Redfern All Blacks Knockout (RAB KO) 2016 Committee, member Christine Robinson expressed her joy at being able to confirm the annual event will be hosted at Leichhardt Oval in October.
The event will be "taken back to its traditional focus of culture and the Aboriginal spirit," she said, adding that "the committee was happy to have received such a good response from Leichhardt Oval management, who had welcomed the chance to be involved with the Indigenous community."
The announcement comes after Leichhardt Council voted unanimously on Tuesday night to support one of the biggest sports events in the Indigenous calendar.
The Knockout will be held over five ovals in the Leichhardt area, where over 100 teams across Australia will battle it out.
The Koori Knockout announcement in Redfern on Wednesday night. Source: NITV News
As in previous years, the teams will be divided into junior, women's and men's categories.
The Leichhardt Oval and nearby facilities will give players and attendees access to first rate conveniences which will be a welcome experience, especially for teams who have travelled far from home.
The RAB KO committee have said that they are excited by the news after nearly six months in planning and negotiations. The committee are hopeful that the event can be used to shed light on some key social issues in the Aboriginal community, and are grateful to have the opportunity to share the fantastic work being done in Redfern.
Jo Bostock has been heavily involved in the RAB KO teams for over four years and is an integral part of the Knockout Committee for 2016.
She allayed early concerns following the announcement, saying that the committee were in negotiations to address the issue of parking in the Leichhardt area, and would work on methods to make the event accessible.
She would like to see the event have a community oriented feel, and said that there were a number of ideas being discussed which would make it easy for families to attend.
Redfern All Blacks players Rebecca Riley, 22, and Shane Nolan-Carr, 20. Source: NITV News
Source: NITV
