Welcoming newly inducted NSWIS Water Polo players

The New South Wales Institute of Sport (NSWIS) celebrated its newly inducted Women’s Water Polo scholarship holders earlier this week with a full day of performance, connection and culture.

The day began with an early morning gym session led by Strength & Conditioning Practitioner Billy Macklin followed by a welcome to the program from A/High Performance Director Anna Longman and Senior Sport Coordinator Betul Ince – all fuelled by Head of Nutrition Holly Edstein.

Women’s Water Polo Head Coach Neven Cirkovic and Assistant Coach Kate Pipkin shared their 2026 coaching vision and aspirations for the program, alongside Stingers Head Coach Bec Rippon, who spoke about the connection between NSWIS and the Australian women’s national program.

Trevor Eastwood, from the Dalmarri Group, delivered the Acknowledgement of Country and spoke about the significance and history of First Nations art. Athletes and staff then participated in a powerful cultural activity, creating their own team mural inspired by Indigenous design that helped to tell the story of the athlete journey within the NSWIS community towards becoming an Australian stinger.

Held on Wangal Country at Sydney Olympic Park, the session fostered genuine team bonding and a deep connection to Country and First Nations history – a meaningful moment marked by each athlete, staff member, and Eastwood adding their thumbprint to the artwork. The team proudly gifted Eastwood a Water Polo ball decorated with Indigenous designs that were hand-drawn by the athletes.

The day concluded with lunch alongside our neighbours at the GWS GIANTS and the official presentation of NSWIS uniforms to our newest NSWIS scholarship holders.

Rachel Tingey, NSWIS