Tweed Seagulls Players Abelee Stanley, Jaime Chapman, Kaitlyn Phillips, Lailee Phillips, Leticia Haas-Quinlan and Shaylee Bent have all been named to play in the NRL All Stars game in Townsville.
For proud Buranggin and Biria-gubba woman Abelee Stanley her selection in this week’s Indigenous All Stars game is a dream come true.
As a young girl growing up in Cherbourg and Murgon – the home of Indigenous Team of the Century members Steve Renouf and Frank Fisher – she can remember attending All Stars games with her family and being inspired by the players representing their mob and culture.
“I was overwhelmed when Dean Widders called me as I didn’t believe I could make the side so it was a very emotional moment,” Abelee said.
“Growing up I was inspired by watching both the men and women’s teams and the pride they displayed in representing our culture.”
Stanley plays for the Tweed Seagulls and will have plenty of support in Camp as she is joined by team mates Kaitlyn and Lailee Phillips as well as Shaylee Bent, Jaime Chapman and Leticia Haas-Quinlan in what is believed to be a record representation from one club.
Seagulls celebrated their selection at their season launch last week with Shaylee, Kaitlyn and Abelee being the proud recipients of the inaugural Tom Searle scholarships to assist them in their equally impressive off-field endeavours.
Stanley is enrolled at Bond University where she is progressing towards a degree in Social Science while Bent is in the second year of an Education Degree, Haas-Quinlan is majoring in Global Indigenous Studies and Kaitlyn Phillips has just enrolled in a Cardiac Sonography Degree after completing a Paramedic Degree.
All six players have committed to inspiring the next generation of players in their coming through Tweed Seagulls and paid homage to those who have gone before them.
Shaylee Bent, a proud Wiradjuri woman, singled out inaugural Women’s captain Bec Young for special mention.
“I remember her speaking to us about the pride she had in the jersey,” Shaylee recounted. “She was so inspiring with her community work off the field and that’s the message the Tweed girls want to deliver to young Indigenous girls – that they can achieve anything”
Who knows?
There might be a young girl in Cherbourg who will be inspired to dream of what is possible.
Just like Abelee Stanley.
Witness the best of the best from both sides of the Tasman. As athletes and as people from the First Nations.
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