By Mark Heenan
GOOD relations between the Aboriginal community and the police was the winner after Sunday’s football match between members of the Western suburbs police force and a Western suburbs indigenous football team.
The police retained the William Cooper Cup by 30 points, 8.7.55 to 3.7.25, in front of hundreds of fans at Arden St, North Melbourne. It was the police team’s third straight win in the annual match.
“It was a great day for the western suburbs’ community and despite the rain there was plenty of activity,” Senior Constable Jodi Addison said.
The game marked the start of NAIDOC week – designed to raise awareness of indigenous culture in the western region.
The winning police team was made up of many members of the force from Footscray.
The CEO of Gathering Place, Colleen Marion, said the match was designed to commemorate the good relationship between police and the Western suburbs indigenous community.
“The match is not about winning, it’s about having a game that recognises the reconciliation process and builds up the relationship (between the Aboriginal community) with police,” Ms Marion said.
The cup is named in honour of William Cooper, a Footscray Aboriginal activist during the 1930s. He was also a key figure behind the formation of NAIDOC.
“William Cooper lived in Footscray and there is a little house (which) still stands today and that’s where he stayed when he fought for the rights of Aboriginal people,” Ms Marion said.
NAIDOC marks Aborigines Day in Australia on the first Sunday in July every year.
