When she visited Newcastle last week former world No.1 tennis player Ash Barty served up a different role.
The Tennis Australia First Nations Tennis Ambassador and proud Ngarigo woman was in the former steel city encouraging youngsters to join the National Indigenous Tennis Carnival.
The event will take place in Darwin from 10-13 August.
It is considered the pinnacle tournament for young First Nations players and Barty hopes it will be the launchpad of the next rising star.
“Through participation in sport there [are] just so many ways we can help kids get better and dream bigger,” she said.
The Newcastle visit, at District Park Tennis Centre, was the second of the tour’s dates, following its launch at Melbourne Park.
Similar regional and metro events will take place in every state and territory leading up to the 2023 National carnival.
On Thursday 6 April, Barty was joined by Tennis Australia’s First Nations Lead and Yuin woman Kyah Jones and more than 140 Indigenous youth aged between nine and 15 from Newcastle and surrounding regions.
The event was run by Tennis NSW in collaboration with Tennis Australia, and The Wollotuka Institute of the University of Newcastle.
Barty said visiting regional areas not only promoted the Darwin carnival but also offered a chance to promote the sport itself.
“It’s an opportunity for our kids to come together, try new things and be culturally involved… it’s certainly nice in the lead up to having the national event to have so many opportunities before the main event, around the country,” she said.
“It’s incredible [to see so many First Nations youth trying tennis for the first time], this is what it’s all about, it’s about trying things for the first time, it’s all about participating, coming and trying tennis, learning new and different things, and bringing people together is a bonus.”
Combining culture and sport is something the three-time Grand Slam champion is passionate about.
“Over the past year, it’s been incredible to try new things,” Barty said.
“I’ve just been so grateful and appreciative of my journey across tennis and beyond now, but to still be connected and be able to contribute in ways like this, particularly with First Nations youth is my passion, I love it, and it’s certainly nice to be here.”
Role models, she added, shine a light on possible pathways.
“I’ve had different role models throughout my whole life, starting with my mum and my sisters, and then professionally evolved into Evonne [Goolagong Cawley] and Cathy Freeman,” Barty said.
“They are both exceptional people and great role models in a sense of what they did in their field, on the court, on the track, but also their contribution after they retired.
“[It] is something that I would really love to emulate.
“I’d love to continue to contribute in different ways, continue to evolve my role, and continue to give back to kids and give them the opportunity in both the education and participation pathway.”
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