2026 Brolga Cranes First Nations Netball Carnival

Teams are rolling in … this is an amazing weekend of connection, laughter and culture. Get your team together and register today!

Stay tuned for announcement of workshops!!!

🏆 INAUGURAL FIRST NATIONS CARNIVAL RESULTS 🏆

Our inaugural First Nations Carnival, proudly sponsored by Brolga Cranes, was an incredible celebration of netball, culture and community.

Congratulations to our division champions and runners-up:

🖤💛❤️Under 10
Champions: Aquamarine
Runners-Up: Trinity 10’s

💙🤍💚 Under 12
Champions: Valleys Quartz
Runners-Up: Sapphires

🖤💛❤️ Under 14
Champions: Valleys Mercury
Runners-Up: Burnett Connections

💙🤍💚 Under 16 Girls
Champions: Tidda Girls
Runners-Up: Calliope Violet Vixens

🖤💛❤️ Under 16/18
Champions: Yeah the Girls
Runners-Up: Warrego

Congratulations to every team that joined us for our very first First Nations Carnival. We sincerely appreciate your support and hope you enjoyed being part of this special event.

A huge thank you once again to our naming-rights sponsor, Brolga Cranes, for proudly supporting this wonderful celebration. 🏐

🏐 BETTER LATE THAN NEVER… THEY’VE FINALLY BOUNCED IN!

Our First Nations Carnival netballs have officially arrived — and they were definitely worth the wait! 💙💛

Featuring our stunning carnival artwork, these special-edition balls are available for $25 each.

Pick yours up from the GNA canteen on Tuesday nights.

Don’t miss your chance to take home a special piece of our First Nations Carnival! 🖤💙💛

🖤💛❤️ More than a uniform—every design tells a story.

Today, we’re proud to introduce Valleys Mercury and share the story behind their carnival uniform, Dugong Dreaming (Gladstone Waters).

Their story begins at Barney Point, where the ocean meets community and saltwater stories are carried on the wind. This uniform is more than fabric—it represents Country, connection and pride.

At the heart of the artwork are the Dugongs, gentle guardians of the sea that represent calm strength, protection and unity. Like the girls, they move together with trust, purpose and teamwork—reminding us that true power does not always roar; sometimes it moves quietly and confidently.

💙 Sea Blue represents the waters of Gladstone Harbour—resilience, depth and the strong bond between people and the ocean.

🩷 Vibrant Pink represents the girls—bold, proud, fearless and full of heart. It celebrates strength, sisterhood, culture and confidence.

🐚 Sea Shells, inspired by those gathered along Barney Point’s shoreline, symbolise protection, growth and each player’s individual journey. No two shells or players are the same, but together they create something beautiful.

🌅 Sunset Coral Gold draws inspiration from Gladstone’s spectacular sunsets. It represents legacy, future dreams and the glow of ancestors walking beside the girls and guiding them forward.

The patterns flow like ocean currents, representing passing plays, connections between teammates and the rhythm of the game. Circles symbolise community and family—because when these girls step onto the court, they carry more than a ball.

They carry mob. They carry culture. They carry pride.

🎨 Designed by Justin Giblet from Forbidden ONYX

Thank you to Valleys Mercury Under 14 Girls and Forbidden Onyx for sharing this beautiful uniform and its powerful story with us. 🩵💚🤍

🖤💛❤️ More than a uniform—every design tells a story.

Today, we’re proud to introduce Tidda Girls and headspace Gladstone and share the story behind their carnival uniform, featuring the artwork mind • body • spirit • culture • country.

Created by artist Riki Salam of We Are 27 Creative, following consultation with members of the headspace network and cultural advisors, the artwork represents connection—to ourselves, each other, Culture and Country.

At the centre, two people sit together talking, discussing and yarning. The surrounding dots represent their lives and the experiences they face—both good and bad.

Pathways and woven lines symbolise hope, shared knowledge and strengthened connections. The circles represent headspace services across Australia, supporting young people to live better lives.

Together, the elements form a map of the human brain and a map of Country and Culture—reminding us that when minds are strong, people are strong, and connection to Country and Culture strengthens us all.

🎨 Artwork by Riki Salam of We Are 27 Creative, endorsed for use by PCCC.

Thank you to Tidda Girls and headspace Gladstone for sharing this powerful design and its story with us. 🤍💚🩵

🖤💛❤️ More than a uniform — every design tells a story.

Today, we’re proud to introduce Team Warrego and share the special story behind their carnival singlets.

The inspiration for the design came from Warrego’s captain, Lylah Hamilton, a proud First Nations woman.

Family as a Team

Family and great teams share the same truth: strength grows when everyone contributes in their own way.

When we show up for each other—lifting a little, listening a little and supporting a little—our individual efforts connect to create something powerful.

The design represents the family and teams in Lylah’s life, while the dots symbolise the journey of growth experienced through their time together.

🎨 Designed and painted by Lylah’s cousin, Jenny Sheward-Spence, 2025.

Thank you, Team Warrego, for sharing your meaningful design and its story with us. 🤍💚🩵

🖤💛❤️ The 2026 Brolga Cranes First Nations Carnival showcased more than just fantastic netball—it celebrated culture, community, and connection. 💙💚🤍

One of the highlights was seeing the incredible uniforms worn by teams from across the region. Every design has a story, and we'd love to help share those stories with our community.

📸 Send us a team photo and tell us about the inspiration behind your uniform—what it represents, who designed it, and the meaning behind the artwork.

Email your photo and story to [email protected], and we'll feature your team on our social media pages so everyone can celebrate the people, culture, and stories that made this year's carnival so special.

A huge thank you to Glenn Butcher for popping in to say hello, supporting our amazing vendors, and taking the time to make his way around the courts to chat with spectators.

Your support of our netball community and the 2026 Brolga Cranes First Nations Carnival was greatly appreciated. 💙💚🤍🖤❤️💛