Connecting community through sport celebrated at Indigenous Sports Awards

When Noongar and Martujarra man Nat Heath was young he was diagnosed with Guillian-Barre Syndrome, an autoimmune disease that attacks the nervous system and causes paralysis.

The diagnosis didn't set him back, but became one of his biggest motivators.

"Getting into triathlon, I just wanted to test my endurance, because the doctor said I would never have the same endurance after having the illness," he said.

After seeing what he achieved from his first triathlon, Heath went on to compete in six ironman events and won a championship in his age division.

"Which was amazing for myself, but there was just no other Black fellas doing the sport," he said.

"So I wanted to create a avenue where more mob could feel like they could participate in the sport of triathlon."

It inspired him to establish TriMob in 2020, an organisation that encourages mob to be physically active, through triathlons or marathons.

"Connecting community is a big piece of what we do, making sure our programs are culturally safe," Heath said.

"People feel a lot safer to come into our program just try it."

The organisation runs a "Mob the Marathon" program, to train participants from all over Australia to compete in the Sydney Marathon, now a World Major.

Talisha Godwin joined the program at the start of the year as a beginner, having little experience in training for or running a marathon.

"As a woman, as a mum, I just didn't think I couldn't do it," she said.

"I felt supported, I'd pushed so hard for myself to get there. I'd had days where I just couldn't do it, I was too tired, there was too much to do.

"But then one of the things one of the guys said in the group was, 'how can you show up one per cent today?'

"And that's a mantra I just said over and over and over again."

Godwin was amazed the community she was able to find in the program

"Showing up at the start line and finding the rest of the mob there in your group and starting together as a group and knowing it doesn't matter where we are on the race, on the track, we're all crossing the line together and supporting each other," she said.

Recognising First Nations excellence

TriMob is one of the nominees for Team of the Year at the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sports Awards (NATSISAs).

The awards were established by late Aboriginal activist and former international soccer player Charles Perkins in 1986, to use sport as an example of bringing people from all backgrounds together.

It is now organised by former AFL player Nathan Lovett-Murray.

"I recently just found out that my great grandfather, Pastor Sir Doug Nichols, used to host the event," he said.

"Now I'm hosting the event. So it's a bit of family history there and it's something that I'm really proud to be a part of."

As it grew in the 1990s, it showcased the best athletes from a range of sports, and at times became one of the only ways for the sporting contributions of mob to be recognised.

"Played with the Bombers for 10 years in the AFL and I wasn't able to attend the Sports Awards, but I did attend the Deadly Awards that used to be on," Lovett-Murray said.

"I actually won an award for football, so I remember going to those awards and loved seeing all the speeches of all the winners."

The NATSISAs serve as way for First Nations athletes to come together and find community with other mob from different sports.

This year's event will be held on Gadigal land at the Sydney Cricket Ground tonight, the first time the city has hosted the ceremony since 2001.

Before that it was on 20-year hiatus until 2023 and was brought back to be held in Brisbane and Melbourne.

Lovett-Murray hopes that in future more organisations and sponsors can get on board and support the growth of Indigenous athletes.

"Because when you support the Sports Awards, you're supporting First Nations sports all around the country," he said.

Cathy Freeman will be this year's keynote speaker, and categories include Lifetime Achievement award, Sportsperson of the Year, and National Trailblazer award.