Coinciding with the first day of this year's NAIDOC Week celebrations, the HART Sapphire and Ruby Series First Nations round will recognise the contributions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to the sport of netball and to the nation.
Sunday's matches in both competitions will feature signage with First Nations artwork and the 2024 NAIDOC week theme - 'Keep the fire burning! Blak, loud and proud'.
Clubs are also contributing to the celebration with dresses and bibs featuring First Nations artwork.
The Darling Downs Panthers dress in the Ruby Series will feature a striking design by Toowoomba-based First Nations artist Emily Robinson.
"I have incorporated the Darling Downs Panthers in the centre piece," Robinson said of her design.
"The panther is surrounded by symbols representing people. This is called a yarning circle.
"Throughout the piece there are journey lines which represent the Darling Downs Panthers' journey through life. There are also yarning circles with both women and men to represent the families in the Panthers' community ... down the bottom and top there are seven females that represent the players on court.
"Lastly I have added different animal symbols to represent our ancestors coming back in the form of these animals to help guide us on our journey through netball and life."
HART Sapphire Series contenders Gold Coast Titans, who will face table-topping TAE Aerospace Ipswich Jets in a crucial contest at Nissan Arena this weekend, had Indigenous NRL star Preston Campbell address their players during the week about the significance of a First Nations round.
Sunday's game will be a special one for the Jets with Murrawari woman Lily Cubby - a member of the inaugural Black Swans' First Nations team which participated in the 2024 Pacific Netball Series at Nissan Arena recently -
Carina Leagues Club Tigers, who open the HART Sapphire Series fixtures this weekend against Bond University Bull Sharks, held a yarning circle with their playing group ahead of what will be their final fixture of the year.
Sunday's action will also feature a Welcome to Country and cultural dance performance before the HART Sapphire Series matches on Nissan Arena's show court while a pre-game function will welcome members of Netball Queensland's First Nations Advisory Group and First Nations Sapphire Series players and their families.
RUBY SERIES FIXTURES
Gold Coast Titans vs TAE Aerospace Ipswich Jets, Nissan Arena Court 3, Sunday 4pm
Darling Downs Panthers vs ACU Brisbane North Cougars, Nissan Arena Court 7, Sunday 4pm
Bond University Bull Sharks vs Carina Leagues Club Tigers, Nissan Arena Court 3, Sunday 6pm
Brisbane South Wildcats vs Sunshine Coast Thunder, Nissan Arena Court 1, Sunday 6pm
SAPPHIRE SERIES FIXTURES
Bond University Bull Sharks vs Carina Leagues Club Tigers, Nissan Arena Show Court, Sunday 4pm (Live on KommunityTV)
Brisbane South Wildcats vs Sunshine Coast Thunder, Nissan Arena Court 1, Sunday 4pm
Gold Coast Titans vs TAE Aerospace Ipswich Jets, Nissan Arena Show Court, Sunday 6pm (Live on KommunityTV)
