SUNDAY’S wet weather shortened but could not stop the third annual Marngrook match in Bright.
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The event, organised by Bright P-12 College, Dhudhuroa Waywurru Nations Aboriginal Corporation, Thathangathay Foundation and Kindred Spirits Foundation, aims to celebrate the traditional Indigenous game.
Bright P-12 College Indigenous languages teacher Rebecca Crawley said about 90 people took part in the match between Murrinh-patha and the Dhudhuroa language groups.
"The game had to be finished a little bit early because the possum skin ball disintegrated in the rain,” she said.
“In the end they tried tying it together but it kept on still falling apart, it got a bit wet."
Mrs Crawley said a great atmosphere surrounded the day, with students doing Indigenous chants and a commentator calling the game in the Murrinh-patha language.
Murrinh-patha won the match while former student Reuben Jamieson, matched up against his twin brother, was judged the best player.
"They set up some spectacular marks together," Mrs Crawley said.
Artists from each language group painted a didgeridoo that will be used in future ceremonies.
"At the end they said it was the treaty between the two groups to work together,” she said.
A busload of Dhudhuroa descendents travelled from Melbourne for the occasion and about 12 people attended from the Wadeye community in Northern Territory.
Elite footballers Nathan Lovett-Murray and Ben Reid also took part in the day.
