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At least the first time in 09, any indigenous girl in the town could try out, including local junior club members and those with an actual interest and perhaps even a touch of ability.
Not only is it now reduced to girls (none have an interest in club football and still no boys from all of northern and north west nsw) from a single school among the handful in the town and many hundreds in the region, but it's now morphed into part and parcel of the government funded 'no school, no sport' programme. (which in my opinion is removing what is often the one and only enjoyment in a kids life and the only vehicle to reach them. But that's another story)
The 'festival' is also funded by the NT government. So, it's gone from a token "look what we're pretending to be doing, so our WC bid looks good", to "look what's now changed into a few schools participating in a token government funded programme (that we will allow people to believe is all ffa funded) that gets some Murray kids together to use for political advantage and an annual media opportunity.
However, good on the kids getting to go and I hope they enjoy it. It's a pity good men like Kean Marshall and others are limited by the political suits calling the shots based solely on current propaganda requirements.
Edited by skeptic: 21/6/2011 12:20:54 PM
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