Arnhem Crows President and Barunga local Helen Lee has been named the NT's AFLW Chemist Warehouse Community Ambassador for 2022.
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Ms Lee said she grew up with the Arnhem Crows footy club, and has been putting in the hard yards behind the scenes for the last 15 years, including the last two years as president.
She said she has a particular passion for promoting women's football, especially in remote communities like Barunga after being approached in 2019 by a group of local girls about putting a team in the regional competition.
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"A number of young ladies approached me and said, Look, will you support us in an expression of interest to form our women's team? I said, Oh, yeah, by jeez I will.'" Ms Lee said.
"I'm all for promoting women and men, you know, whether you're Indigenous or non- Indigenous in any sports.
"[Now] having an Indigenous team in the Big Rivers Football League in the senior comp, we are the first community team, I think in the whole of Australia, in any comp like this.
"The Arnhem Crows have led the way with promoting Indigenous teams in the Big River Football League. I'm so proud of this club and what it has achieved."
Ms Lee's role will involve promoting AFLW and supporting girls to play and take advantage of the opportunities playing footy can present.
She said former Crows player Ashanti Bush, who now plays for the Gold Coast Suns, was a big role model for other girls.
"Ashanti Bush played in the first year in the women's team," she said.
"Just imagine the, the other young ladies, there's plenty of opportunity out there.
"Empowering youth, that's what we're all about."
With pre-season about to kick off for the Crows, Ms Lee's work as ambassador is already underway.
"I'll be making sure to go around door knocking on the doors of the young ladies and saying 'make sure you got your footy boots and pay your registration'."
"I'm onto that already."
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