15th annual Murlpirrmarra Connection Cultural Football Carnival takes place this long weekendWednesday, May 31, 2023 - 1:36 PM

The Wiluna Martu Eagles, the Mt Magnet Miners and the Dalkeith Nedlands Junior Football Club are gearing up for their annual showdown at the Murlpirrmarra Connection’s cultural football carnival this long weekend. 

Now in its fifteenth year, the carnival brings together young players from the Wiluna Martu Eagles, the Mount Magnet Miners, and the Dalkeith Nedlands Junior Football Club for a unique team-building weekend that combines highly skilled football with educational activities and plenty of fun for all.  

The carnival has become a major fixture on the junior football calendar and an important celebration of team spirit, cultural understanding, respect, and healthy living.  

This year the carnival will take place in Perth with Dalkeith Nedlands Junior Football Club hosting the games on Sunday 4 June. 

Troy Kirkham Executive Manager Game Development and Community Football at the West Australian Football Commission said the carnival has a long tradition of bringing together children and parents from remote Aboriginal communities to engage in sport, culture and education. 

“Congratulations to the clubs on marking the 15th year of the Murlpirrmarra Connection Cultural Football Carnival,” he said. 

“The carnival is a great example of bringing communities together from remote areas to Perth to celebrate football and culture.” 

The inaugural match took place in 2009 when the Wiluna Martu Eagles team and supporters made the 1100km trek to Perth to play on Dalkeith’s home ground. Since then, the Dalkeith team and parents have been hosted by the Wiluna community every two years for a cultural experience of a lifetime.  

This is the first time that Mount Magnet will participate in the Perth carnival, after Dalkeith played its second game in Mount Magnet last year, reflecting the growing profile of this event and the enjoyment it brings to these communities.  

The weekend is packed with activities including team-building exercises, cultural awareness sessions, and, of course, plenty of footy.  

The carnival culminates with the highly anticipated football match and the presentation of the Murlpirrmarra Perpetual Cup on Sunday 4 June.