Mt Barker Bullets’ Jacinta Anderson has been selected to join a WA team of U17 netballers heading to Darwin to compete in the 2009 Arafura Games.

The girls were selected from 300 netballers of all ages who gathered in Perth for the NAIDOC Week Netball Carnival in early July.

The carnival is held each year and supported by the Department of Sport and Recreation, WA Netball and Healthway.

This is the first time a team has been selected from the carnival to compete at the Arafura Games.

The games are considered a stepping stone for athletes in their journey to compete at the highest level.

DSR Indigenous sports development officer Marisa Bradshaw said sport and the netball carnival in general was a fitting way to celebrate NAIDOC Week.

“Like NAIDOC Week, sport is all about bringing people together,” Ms Bradshaw said.

“This carnival is not just about the competition, it’s a celebration of sport, cultural diversity and friendship,” she said.

“The carnival also encourages indigenous girls to participate in sport, while providing an opportunity for those in regional areas to come to Perth and meet new people and other family members in the process.”