The club’s Reconciliation Action Plan Working is about demonstrating respect for Indigenous culture and helping to create opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres people.
Through the vehicle of Australian football, West Coast has brought together from all walks of life, from all social and cultural backgrounds and understands and respects the club’s important leadership role within the community and value of reconciliation in action.
West Coast has now joined four other AFL Clubs in developing a Reconciliation Action Plan which include Essendon, Richmond, Geelong and Fremantle Football Clubs.
The West Coast Eagles have a longstanding commitment to assisting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples through the appointment of the Australian Football League’s first Indigenous Liaison Officer, continued work within the ‘Eagles in the Community’ programs and the ongoing support of the Wirrpanda Foundation.
The club is very proud to launch the Reconciliation Action Plan, and would like to thank those Reconciliation Action Plan Working Group members, who contributed to the plan’s development.
These individuals include:
• Chair of the Working Group – Richard Godfrey (Chief Operating Officer)
• Michelle Phillips (Eagles in the Community Manager)
• Phil Narkle (Indigenous Liaison Officer)
• Melissa Burrows (Human Resources Manager)
• Lisa Cunningham (Wirrpanda Foundation Chief Executive Officer)
• James Grabski (Community Engagement Coordinator)
• Sam Alexeeff (former West Coast Eagles Community Engagement Coordinator)
• Jamie Bennell (West Coast Eagles Player)
• Josh Hill (West Coast Eagles Player)
• Mark Hutchings (West Coast Eagles Player)
• Fraser McInnes (West Coast Eagles Player)
• Stephen Loo (Community Representative)
• Simon Forrest (Elder in Residence Curtin University)
• Craig Turley (Principal Moodjarlea Community and Indigenous Relations Consultants)
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander players from both the past and the present have thrown their support behind the club’s Reconciliation Action Plan.
“My name is Josh Hill. I was born and bred in WA and play football for the West Coast Eagles. I’m 25 years old and proud to be a member of two Indigenous tribes, namely the Noongar and Bardi tribes. I’m very proud of my culture. We have faced tough times in the past, but still manage to stand strong together and fight racism, discrimination and inequality. The club’s development of a Reconciliation Action Plan will be amazing in demonstrating respect for our culture and helping create opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The opportunities will help drive and motivate those in need to push for a better future. A lot of people out there don’t get the opportunities and I personally will be helping as much as possible to mentor those in need (from young to old) and help them to strive to achieve their goals.”
- Josh Hill, West Coast Eagles player
"As an Indigenous Australian and an ex player of the West Coast Eagles Football Club, I am extremely excited and proud to be a part of the 2014 Reconciliation Action Plan. I fully support this movement by the club and encourage any associated parties to become involved with its actions and outcomes."
- Chris Lewis, former West Coast Eagles player
“I am a proud Noongar person, with strong cultural beliefs that were passed on to me by my father and grandparents. I am a past player of the West Coast Eagles Football Club and currently employed at the club as an Indigenous Liaison Officer. The West Coast Eagles Football Clubs 2014 Reconciliation Action Plan will outline the clubs actions and outcomes, which will strengthen their relationships and gain respect with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. I personally will support the West Coast Eagles Football Club and will assist the club to understand our cultural ways to achieve the positive outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. We need to walk the pathway through the West Coast Eagles gateway together as ONE. To empower the knowledge is a moorditj and beautiful tool”.
- Phil “Magic” Narkle, West Coast Eagles Indigenous Liaison Officer and former West Coast Eagles player
“Being a part of the Reconciliation Action Plan Working Group has given me a great insight into the hard work that has been put into creating opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The West Coast Eagles Football Club has shown a strong commitment in supporting this plan and is continuing to build strong relationships with Indigenous people and the broader community. Being of Noongar-Yamatji heritage, I am proud to have had this opportunity to be part of the Reconciliation Action Plan and to close the gap once and for all.”
- Jamie Bennell, West Coast Eagles Football Club, Wirrpanda Foundation mentor and Reconciliation Action Plan Working Group member
“Few people would understand how important the game of AFL football is for many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and their communities. The game brings communities together and also provides a means of sending positive messages to their youth. Any AFL player or staff member of the West Coast Eagles Football Club, Indigenous or non-Indigenous who visits a community, carries enormous influence over the kids.
This Reconciliation Action Plan brings together a lot of things and it is an important step for all Indigenous and non-Indigenous players and staff of the West Coast Eagles Football Club to be a part of closing the gap between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people by providing opportunities. I know that I speak for my brother players when I say that it is an honour to be invited by West Coast Eagles Football Club as a Noongar past player to be part of 2014 West Coast Eagles Reconciliation Action Plan. The West Coast Eagles have been lucky to celebrate the talents of some amazing Indigenous athletes today and in the past, and this initiative is a chance to recognise the unique contribution made by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and to commit to long term strategies to encourage local communities to be part of a great organisation through employment, education and sport at the West Coast Eagles Football Club.”
- Peter Matera, Former West Coast Eagles player
“As a former player of the West Coast Eagles who represented the club for the best part of my life, I’m excited the club has taken the initiative to bridge the gap within the club by now not only providing opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people only on the field, but also employment opportunities within the club.”
- David Wirrpanda, Former West Coast Eagles player
“The club has always been committed to ensuring that the benefits of its success flow through to the community that has supported it - the players have respected and encouraged this position. There has always been a healthy respect for difference and the club has long recognised and honoured the unique place and value of Australia’s first people. Even so there have been many challenges and hard lessons to learn with the net result being the establishment of an environment that has enabled, empowered and produced some of the most decorated Aboriginal players of the modern AFL era. More recently the club has extended its Indigenous relations commitment through formal support of the Wirrpanda Foundation and the important educational empowerment and social inclusion work that it undertakes. It has been a pleasure to professionally re-engage with the club through the Reconciliation Action Plan facilitation process, and to witness and contribute to the whole club commitment to this community leadership responsibility. The club understands the nature and value of reconciliation in action and this Reconciliation Action Plan will provide a framework that ensures it is able to continue to build upon a sound foundation and improve its performance in this important social domain. I look forward to being a part of the clubs ongoing reconciliation journey.”
Craig R Turley, Former West Coast Eagles player and Reconciliation Action Plan facilitator
