All-Indigenous Songline Skating take on Radicool Roebourne as a skate workshop for kids

Australia’s first all-Indigenous skateboarding team travelled to the Pilbara to take part in Roebourne’s skating competition and workshop for children, with more than 85 kids attending.

Songline Skating ventured from all different parts of Australia and created a workshop for children at Roebourne’s skate park on Saturday, dubbed Radicool Roebourne.

Dunghutti man and skateboarder for Songline Kieran Reilly said the workshop aimed to get the kids “motivated” and “out and about.”

“Hopefully we can get the kids motivated and into skateboarding and stay off the computer games, and get out and about,” he said.

The 29-year-old said more than 85 kids took part in the workshop where the professional skaters taught them skating skills, as well as hosted a competition.

Songline skaters also demonstrated their advanced skills to the kids, as well as having an open skate period with everyone.

In photos, dozens of kids are all smiles as they hold up their skateboards with their helmets bobbling on their head.

The Songline Skateboarding team can also be seen smiling as they hand out merchandise to the children at the skate park.

Songline, a team of 10 all-Indigenous skaters, have spent the past three years travelling all over Australia to run workshops for kids.

With the goal of getting kids off the street and into active sports, Songline is working to build stronger relationships with communities to make their events an annual program.

“We just try to build those relationships with the communities so we can make this a yearly thing and keep coming back, and making them bigger,” Mr Reilly said.

“We want a positive outlook on life for the kids, and keep them motivated, and then also learn skills and that as well.

“We want to get them out and about, and active. . .also when you’re down at the skate park you meet a lot of new friends.”

Mr Reilly said skateboarding has changed “a lot of our lives,” with Songline now hoping to bring about that positive change for other children across the nation.

“I’ve travelled all over the world with skateboarding and have even had my own DC shoe made with the Aboriginal flag on it, and I had artwork designed by my grandfather and uncle that’s on the inner sole of the shoe,” he said.

“If it wasn’t for skateboarding I wouldn’t have gotten to see half the stuff I’ve seen.”

Mr Reilly said Songline looks to “inspire” and “motivate” the younger generations of First Nation children and creates workshops to achieve this goal.

“We want to keep them off the streets, and keep them with a positive outlook on life like if we can do it, anyone can do it,” he said.

The 29-year-old said representing his people in the first all-Indigenous team means “everything” to him.

“ I get to represent my culture, my hometown where I’m from, all my family.

“And to do it with all my brothers is amazing.”