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Yarrabah sisters represent
by Rhonda Hagan
T
wo sisters from Yarrabah in north Queensland have been selected to represent Australia. Khandra Stafford will travel to New Zealand in May to represent the Australian Under 18 Indigenous Schoolgirls team while her younger sister, Wendy, will play for the Australian Under 14 Indigenous team at the Gold Coast in July. A shy 17 year old Khandra said she is excited to be selected. “I was originally selected for Team B to play on the Gold Coast in July, but got a call up for Team A to go to New Zealand. “I’ve never been overseas before,” she said. Khandra’s team play in Rotorua for one week, travelling on May 24th and returning on June 1st. Khandra’s mother, Katrina, said she it was unfortunate she couldn’t travel with her daughter for her first time overseas. “I’m excited, happy and emotional all at the same time. I can’t go because of financial constrains.” The trip to New Zealand will cost the family around $4000, something they will pay for through fundraising and as a bonus if a favourable sponsor contacts them. “We have to pay the fees of about $2500 plus the airfares to New Zealand. “I have to raise this money in a short amount of time, which is pretty tough.” They not only have Khandra’s overseas trip to pay for, but they also have their younger daughter Wendy to send to the Gold Coast for the one week carnival in July. Katrina said she will do what she can to make sure her girls can have what she didn’t.
Above: Khandra, Katrina and Wendy Stafford
Khandra Stafford is off to New Zealand. Images supplied
“I was a netball player, a representative player, but I didn’t get to go further.” The mother of 5 is proud of her two daughters and wants to ensure they are role models for the community. “I’d like others to take notice and realise that, we love our community, but there are other places to go, cities to see. “I want people to set a goal and achieve it,” she said. In readiness for the upcoming netball carnivals, Khandra and Wendy train every day, including jogging around the community and doing the Red Arrow, a hill running program.
Above: Khandra and Wendy Stafford
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