Inspiring the next generation while connecting with culture, country and people — this was the important message from the NRLW Indigenous All Stars’ recent visit to Trangie.

The All Stars concept aims to showcase Indigenous and Maori cultures in a week-long festival that was established in 2010 by former Dally M medallist, Preston Campbell. The inaugural women’s game played in 2011 between the Indigenous All Stars and All Stars side made up of Australian Jillaroos representatives and other rising talent.

Local Jessica Skinner is the head coach of the women’s Indigenous All-Stars — a proud Barkindji and Wongaibon woman — born and raised in Trangie where she still resides.

Skinner in early December brought the Indigenous All Stars squad out to Trangie to give players an opportunity to connect with the communities they represent on the footy field.

The Narromine Star attended the Welcome to Country ceremony at Goan Waterhole and the open training session at Alan Burns Oval on Saturday, December 7.

Skinner was selected as head coach of the squad in February this year while making history as the first ever female to lead the NRLW Indigenous All Stars.

Coaching is a passion for Skinner and her journey began in Trangie with a local rugby league team before rising to the elite ranks - which included being named as an assistant coach with the national women’s team, the Jillaroos.

Skinner began organising the Trangie visit for the Indigenous All Stars squad earlier this year and told the Narromine Star it is important for the players to come out to western NSW communities to further connect with their culture and be on Country.

“It is so important that they keep up that connection with culture and Country,” she said.

“They are going to face many obstacles in their careers, whether it is injury, whether it is missing home, so these moments that they take to come back to Country or to be on Country while connecting with other mobs is so important to help shape their identity and resilience.”

Skinner said that the playing group spoke with young people from the community during their visit where they reminded them that nothing is unachievable.

“We had a couple of young people who followed us around and we talked about how hard it is to get to that elite level from here, but it is not unachievable,” she told the Narromine Star.

“They can still achieve it with that dedication and hard work with a lot of sacrifice.”

“For me it is about that visibility — that anything is possible and you know, hopefully we have inspired at least one young boy or girl, Indigenous or non-Indigenous, to go, I can do that one day too.”

Skinner concluded that it was a rare opportunity for the community and she was glad she could bring the NRLW Indigenous squad out to Trangie and inspire the next generation.