Ballarat claimed the bragging rights again but everyone was a winner as Hoops Against Violence returned to Horsham basketball stadium on Monday night.
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A team of Horsham police officers and Aboriginal people squared off against a similar team from Ballarat, in a basketball match that formed part of the latest installment of the annul 'Hoops Against Violence' competition.
Rhiannon Smith, Wimmera South West Area co-ordinator for the Grampians Dhelk Dja Indigenous Family Violence Action Group, said the event was supported by the Victorian Aboriginal Community Initiatives Fund.
"Every year either Ballarat or Horsham hosts the games," she said.
"Basically the whole purpose of Hoops Against Violence was to tackle the over-representation of indigenous people in mainstream media with police.
"There always seems to be not a good relationship - indigenous people being locked up for instance - so this is about people coming together, indigenous people and police playing together to have fun together and build strong relationships."
Ballarat ended up winning 41-28.
The match followed an afternoon of basketball activities and drills for kids at the stadium. There will be a three-on-three match at the stadium on Tuesday.
The match took place during NAIDOC week 2019, which take place nationwide each July to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
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