On the occasion of NAIDOC Week, Softball NSW is proud to also celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

This year, the theme of National NAIDOC Week is — Get up! Stand up! Show up! It is a call to action for First Nations communities and non-indigenous Australians to continue fighting for systematic change and rallying around our mob, Elders and community. More information about this year's powerful theme can be found here.

New South Wales has a long and illustrious history of indigenous softballers, with the likes of Stacey Porter and Tarni Stepto having gone onto to represent Australia at the highest level including the Olympics. Regarded as one of the greatest in the game's history, Porter won a silver medal at the 2004 Olympics and a bronze at the 2008 Olympics. A member of the Tamworth Softball Association, she had also featured in many title-winning NSW state teams throughout her long career. Having retired from the game at the international level, Porter currently plays in the Japan Softball League.

Stacey at the 2020 Olympics

Currently in the USA playing for Oregon State Softball, Tarni Stepto also represented Australia last year at the Olympics in Japan. A member of Manly Warringah Softball Association, Stepto has also been a part of the state squad at the 2019 Open Women's Nationals.

Tarni donning the indigenous playing top designed by Indigenous artist KJH Artworks and Game Clothing

Some of our other indigenous Softballers include Layhnee and Montana Kearnes from Wagga Wagga Softball Association. Montana was a part of the NSW Firestars team that went on to win the Gilley Shield a few years ago, while Layhnee featured in the 2019 NSW U19 team that claimed the Elinor McKenzie shield at the Nationals.