Three-time Olympian and proud Wiradjuri woman, Mariah Williams, has long dreamed of travelling to remote parts of Australia to connect with local Aboriginal communities.
The Hockeyroo recently had that opportunity during a week-long visit to the East Kimberley in Western Australia as part of the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) Share a Yarn program.
Williams, together with fellow AIS Share a Yarn athlete ambassadors Isabella and Jasmine Guthrie, travelled across the region to connect with community, culture and Country, as well as inspire local kids through sport.
The initiative was run with the support of Kimberley-based Aboriginal organisation Garnduwa Amboorny Wirnan, which facilitated athlete-led school visits and sport sessions for more than 200 students.
“The kids were so engaged and enthusiastic,” Williams said.
“Just seeing the smiles on their faces absolutely melts me, so I feel very grateful to have that opportunity.
“I think you can't be it without seeing it, so getting into the community with the students and showing what our life is like as an elite athlete is really important.”
With the AIS Share a Yarn program being a space for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander athletes to strengthen their cultural identity, the visit also aimed to deepen the athletes’ connection to Country and understanding of the rich Aboriginal culture in the Kimberley.
For the Guthrie sisters, who both compete in athletics, the experience resonated strongly after they recently learned of their Aboriginal heritage.
“Being in the East Kimberley region has really helped me find who I am as an Aboriginal woman,” Isabella Guthrie said.
“It allowed me to feel that sense of connection and really appreciate where we live and feel that sense of belonging, like I’ve found my people and my community.”
Find out more about the AIS Share a Yarn program.
