After four days of elite competition across four sports, the University of Queensland (UQ) secured a very respectable third-place finish overall at the 2024 UniSport Indigenous Nationals.
The UQ team went back-to-back, winning the volleyball competition again this year.
UQ competed in four sports at the multi-sport event:
- Volleyball – Ranked 1st
- Touch Football – Ranked 6th
- Netball – Ranked 8th
- Basketball – Ranked 9th
Wollongong University hosted this year’s event, providing cultural experiences and sporting facilities for the 31 University teams competing.
The UQ Sport team is proud to support the UQ Indigenous Nationals team alongside the UQ ATSIS unit, UQ Union and the Goorie Berrimpa student collective.
The team was eliminated from both the basketball and netball competitions by the University of Newcastle, who went on to win the overall championship title for 2024.
The UQ team was quietly confident in the volleyball competition as the reigning champions, with new talent Lachlan Munnas.
“I was quietly optimistic, knowing the team had won it last year. We were fortunate to win every game 2-0 up until the final, which changed after losing the first set in the final. However like any good final, it went to three sets and we fought hard to comeback and win. I’m so incredibly proud of everyone on the team, and it’s always good fun to do it with a Mob that you love.”
The UQ Indigenous Nationals team consisted of veteran players with over four years of experience at the UniSport event. For most recurring players who played on the championship team from 2023, the 2024 competition was their ‘last dance’.
Four-time Indigenous Nationals representative Lesley Scanlan spoke about her final competition as an opportunity to pass on what she had learned to the new debutants.
“It’s a bittersweet feeling to end my time at Indigenous Nationals because I love coming to this every year. But at the same time, I am ready for the ‘new freshers’ who have made a stance this year to keep the fire burning.”
Debutant Stacey Ruthenberg was humbled to join the team in 2024 after their championship year.
“I’m so honoured to come with this group on their last journey and learn how we cooperate as a team, interact with other teams, and love each other as a Mob. Next year, when there are ‘new freshers’, I can show them what it’s all about at Indigenous Nationals.”
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