Sophie Johnson of Nyngan loves Netball.

From the time she first put on her bib at Nyngan Public School to proudly wearing her Nyngan Tiger Netball shirt, it has become a passion. 

These January school holidays she took it one step further by entering into the Budgies Indigenous Junior Netball Tournament held at Tallebudgera Recreational Centre on the Gold Coast, and in doing so came away with a spot in the Australian Indigenous Budgies Netball Under 13’s squad. 

The NSW teams consisted of those who had nominated and on the first day of the Tournament were divided into four teams to represent their State or Territory.  

Selectors aimed at placing the players in teams with those who knew each other and lived in, as much as possible, close proximity to others in their team. The Majority of the girls in the teams were country kids. 

Every State in Australia was represented with all teams vying for the win and a place in the coveted Australian side. 

Throughout the Competition, Sophie played Goal Defence (GD), Goal Keeper (GK), Wing Defence (WD), all positions she chose and enjoyed playing.  

ABOVE: NSW Team

The selection process was a team of dedicated Coaches from other states who trialled the girls over a period of two days, ending up in a group of players from the Top End, Western Australia, South Australia, Queensland and NSW. 

The girls were thrilled to meet Marcia Ella-Duncan who was the first aboriginal woman to play for the Australian Diamonds Netball side.  

Ella-Duncan a descendent of the Yuin nation, played Centre for Australia in 1986/87.

The first Indigenous woman to take up a netball scholarship at the Australian Institute of sport and a regular member of the NSW State Team. She received an Order of Australia Medal in 1988 for Services to netball and has been inducted to the Australian Netball Hall of Fame along with the Aboriginal and Islander Sports Hall of Fame. 

Donnell Wallam is an Australian Netball player for the Queensland Firebirds. In October 2022 she became only the third ever indigenous netballer to play in the Australian Diamonds team and to the delight of the girls spent time at the tournament.  

Those who attended were also fortunate to meet Sharon Finnan White, only the second aboriginal woman to play for the Diamonds. Finnan-White made her Test debut at the 1990 Commonwealth Games, when Netball was a demonstration sport.  

ABOVE: Donnell Wallam with Sophie Johnson 



She was then given a late call-up to the Australian Team for the final of the 1991 Netball World Cup in Sydney. Finnan-White was recalled to the national team six years later and played a key role in Australia's triumphant Netball World Cup Campaign.  

After her retirement she took on the pivotal role as National Netball Development Manager for the National Aboriginal Sports Corporation Australia.  

“Sharon Finnan-White gave an inspirational talk to the girls about her life journey and all about her time playing netball. The girls came away with a new perspective and inspired to work harder,” according to Marea Johnson, Sophie’s Grandmother.  

“We are very proud of Sophie, being the first aboriginal girl to be selected for the ‘Budgies’ from our area and for the skills she has shown to be selected for the side. 

“Sophie will now play again in September and if the logistics are sorted the teams are aiming to play in Fiji at the end of this year. The tournament relies heavily on sponsorship, but Sophie will be training hard in preparation.” Mrs. Johnson said.