150 Souths Cares Participants Celebrate Culture at Indigenous Round
Last week, Allianz Stadium came alive with culture, community and celebration as the Rabbitohs took on the Parramatta Eels in Indigenous Round. The night was a powerful showcase of First Nations excellence both on and off the field, with the Rabbitohs winning in a hard-fought 20–16 victory.
Souths Cares proudly hosted 150 participants from its community programs – Deadly Youth, Deadly Boys 2 Deadly Men, Play Her Way, Nanga Mai Marri and the Liverpool Opportunity Hub. These young people were at the heart of the evening, taking part in a series of unforgettable pre-game experiences. Participants completed a lap of honour around the stadium, carried flags during the official welcome, and some had the special opportunity of walking the Rabbitohs players out onto the field in front of a packed home crowd. For many, it was a once-in-a-lifetime moment to stand alongside their heroes and be part of a proud Rabbitohs tradition.
Brittney Simpson, Nanga Mai Marri Mentor“Seeing our Souths Cares kids do a lap of honour before kick-off and holding the flag while the Welcome was happening, it truly was something special. You could see how proud they were to represent their culture, Souths Cares and the Rabbitohs. After that, just watching them soak up the game and enjoy the atmosphere was deadly. It’s a day they’ll always remember. It shows them they belong, they’re seen, and they carry a legacy worth celebrating.”
Bidjigal Elder, Aunty Barb Simms, delivered a Welcome to Country, setting the tone for the night. A series of cultural dance performances by The Glen for Men and Women and the Brolga Dance Academy lit up the stadium, accompanied by Didgeridoo performances from Mat Doyle, Glenn Doyle, Josh Sly, Joe Horoa, Nathan Leslie and Theo Clarke, who also delivered a rendition of Glory, Glory to South Sydney as the Rabbitohs entered the field.
First Nations supergroup 3% headlined the musical program, performing some of their biggest hits along with their latest track, Our Greats. At half-time, proud Tubba Gah and Wiradjuri woman Millie Mills took centre stage with a powerful performance. The night’s MC was acclaimed actor and presenter, Luke Carroll (Wiradjuri/Ngunnawal).
Cathy Freeman OAM – Kuku Yalanji and Birra Gubba woman, Olympic Gold Medallist, and former Australian of the Year – rang the Rabbitohs’ Legacy Bell to mark the teams’ entry onto the field. Walking out with Cathy Freeman was South Sydney Rabbitohs premiership winner and proud Dunghutti man, Greg Inglis, who also led the Rabbitohs out onto the field for the first half.
From start to finish, Indigenous Round was a celebration of community, culture and connection. For Souths Cares’ participants, it was an opportunity to be part of something bigger than sport – a night that celebrated heritage, pride, and created memories that will last a lifetime.
