Mesh&Knots ASSI ATSI Women’s Group of Mackay and the men’s group Common Thread have created the idea of the inaugural Kanaka Proud Cup to play a curtain raiser at the Mackay Cutters 10th anniversary game against Central Queensland Capras.
The game will coincide with the Mackay Cutters’ 10th anniversary in the Intrust Super Cup, as they take to the field against the Central Queensland Capras.
Since Peter Beattie as Premier of Queensland acknowledged Australian South Sea Islanders (ASSI) as a distinctly sepa-rate cultural group in 2000, many such groups have strived to put their mark on Australian society.
In 2016/17 Mesh & Knots Women’s Group under the guidance of their Chairperson Mrs Marion Healy the group have organised with the newly created men’s group Common Thread —The Inaugural Kanaka Proud Cup and the Greg Fatnowna Memorial Shield involving Mackay & Rockhampton ASSI communities the game will be played on Saturday 15th July, 2017 at the BB Stadium Mackay.
The Games preceded by a community event Connecting the Past with the Future involving the Mackay Mayor Mr Greg Williamson, players and the public coming together at the Blue Water Quay near the Historic landmark—The Leichhardt Tree where the first 70 Pacific Islanders landed in Mackay 1867 to clear the land and prepare the land for the sugar cane. The Cup contenders will be the curtain raisers for the State League game between Mackay Cutters and Central Queensland Capras.
The Mackay Australian South Sea Islander & Rockhampton Australian South Sea Islander community & M&K Women’s group’s efforts have focussed on fostering understanding, awareness and a sharing of their story for the purposes of pro-moting harmony, inclusion and social cohesion within the communities of Mackay and Rockhampton.
The upcoming Greg Fatnowna Memorial Shield and the Kanaka Proud Cup will unify and strengthen the Rockhampton and Mackay ASSI communities as they come together in this inaugural challenge to stamp their mark on Queensland history as confident, engaged, proud Queenslanders.
The Mackay ASSI Kanaka Team vs Rockhampton ASSI Kanaka Team game will be played at 4pm and the Greg Fatnowna Memorial Shield Old Boys game will be played at 7.40pm approx. on Saturday 15 July, 2017.
