Netballer Donnell Wallam has been named NAIDOC Sportsperson of the Year. The 29-year old star goal shooter was recognised at this year’s National NAIDOC Awards ceremony in Brisbane on Saturday night.
In her acceptance speech, Wallam acknowledged her ancestors, who “carried her through” the game last October, where she helped secure Australia’s gold medal at the Commonwealth Games.
“I truly free [them] in everything I do,” she said. “I will dedicate this [award] to my elders back home. I’d like to thank my family and friends who have supported me along this journey.”
National NAIDOC Committee Co-Chair Dr Lynette Riley AO acknowledged the challenging task faced by the judges in selecting the recipients among a sea of brilliant nominees.
“The high calibre of nominees made the Committee decision very difficult,” Dr Riley said. “This year, we are pleased to be able to celebrate and share the achievements of so many more First Nations people by not only recognising winners in each category, but also finalists.”
Wallam, a Noongar woman from Korijekup (Harvey) in Western Australia, told the ABC last week that being nominated was “a huge honour.”
“It’s special knowing my hard work is being recognised but I just hope that the younger generation is being inspired to be that next élite athlete,” she said.
Last year, Wallam was selected in the Australian Diamonds Commonwealth Games squad. Her debut made history as she become the first Indigenous Australian to represent the team at the Commonwealth Games in thirty-two years and the third Indigenous woman to represent Australia in the Commonwealth Games in 80 years.
She took her team to a series sweep against England after slotting “one of the most important goals scored” in the history of netball, according to the head of officiating at England Netball, Gary Burgess.
Despite bringing her team the gold medal at the Commonwealth Games, Wallam was facing public backlash after she called out the founder of the team’s sponsor, Gina Rinehart, for racist comments her father made in the 1980s.
Wallam refused to wear her national playing dress which had a Hancock Prospecting logo on it, saying the mining company had a poor record on Indigenous issues.
Weeks later, the mining company announced it would withdraw from its $15 million sponsorship deal. Last month, Wallam opened up about the ordeal, describing it as a “really difficult” time.
“I’m just so grateful that the girls in the Diamonds environment and the staff all had my back,” she said. “The one thing I learnt from that is to always back yourself and stand by what you believe in and that’s something that I’ll always do because first and foremost, I’m a human and I’ve got values and I’ve got a life outside of netball.”
Wallam, who is considered one of the country’s best goal shooters, secured her first placement with the West Coast Warriors in the West Australian Netball League in 2019 before heading to the UK two years later to play with the Leeds Rhinos in the UK Superleague in her first professional playing contract.
She returned to Australia in early 2022 to take up a replacement position with the Queensland Firebirds in her first season of Super Netball.
Wallam has been named as a reserve for the Australian team at this year’s World Cup in Cape Town, starting in late July.
Other award recipients from this year’s NAIDOC ceremony included Aunty Dr Naomi Mayers OAM, who was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award, film director Rachel Perkins was awarded the Creative Talent Award, Meuram woman Lala Gutchen was awarded the Caring for Country and Culture Award and Dr Matilda House-Williams was the recipient of the Female Elder Award.