Indigenous Affairs Minister Nigel Scullion announced a significant boost in funding for the New South Wales Aboriginal Rugby League Knockout in Tuggerah at the Central Coast Regional Sporting and Recreation Complex last Friday.
The knockout will receive $200,000 per year in funding from the federal government over the next four years.
This is an increase from last years funding of $60,000.
"This particular round is a very special round, this isn't only about footy... This will be the biggest gathering of Aboriginal people in Australia bar none." said Mr Scullion.
"This is a massive cultural event where people refresh relationships, they catch up with people and in much the same way that Garma is an iconic event in the Northern Territory. This particular footy round is an iconic cultural event in New South Wales."
Nigel Scullion at Tuggerah Source: Supplied
The 49th NSW Aboriginal Rugby League Knockout will be held in October at the Central Coast Regional Sporting and Recreation Complex, a site proposed by the deputy chairperson of Darkinjung Land Council, Barry Duncan, after the Newcastle All Blacks took out last year's competition.
Mr Duncan said the Central Coast facility was purpose built for such an event and stressed that the local area would love to play host.
"I said look, before you pick a venue to host next year, come and have a talk to us. We'd love to have it on the Central Coast."
Mr Duncan said the location had a lot of significance to the Darkinjung people.
Barry Duncan at Tuggerah Source: Supplied
"This area's got a strong Aboriginal involvement, it's got a strong history of Aboriginal sites close to here. So if we just look over the back over here, it's Pioneer Dairy. It has actually got a couple of recognised sites and also former burial sites and also a bora ring that was over there as well. So this history and the whole of the Central Coast has so far yielded about 20,000 recognised Aboriginal sites".
President of the Newcastle All Blacks, Edward Smith, said the location was ideal.
"This is just great here. Like nine fields all in one area, which is what you want.
"We were going to have it in Newcastle, ... but this venue. You just couldn't pass it up." he said.
Edward Smith at Tuggerah Source: Supplied
The Newcastle All Blacks beat the La Perouse Panthers 19-18 in last year's knockout in Dubbo to win the honour of hosting the 2019 event. It was their first Knockout grand final win in 31 years.
