Queensland netball stars weave support for One Million Stars

Lorna Jane Queensland Firebirds players have taken time out from their busy training schedule to lend their star power to the One Million Stars to End Violence Project.

Commonwealth Games Minister Kate Jones joined the Firebirds stars for their star-weave jam at Parliament House today.

“I’m so pleased our Firebirds heroes have thrown their support behind this important community initiative today,” she said.

“In the lead up to the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, the One Million Stars initiative aims to unite people across community to make a collective statement to end all forms of violence.

“The stars we’re weaving in the Queensland Firebirds team colours today will form part of the One Million Stars installation at the Games next year.

“Star weavers across Queensland and all over the world have been very busy and I’m pleased to announce we have now completed 800,000 stars.”

Ms Jones said there were more than 200 star-weave communities across the Commonwealth which have pledged 10,000 stars to the project.

“This wonderful community initiative was created by Queensland-based artist, Maryann Talia Pau,” she said.

“Communities have been doing a great job of sending their stars into the One Million Stars headquarters here in Brisbane, with 200,000 stars already received.

“But we know there are loads of stars still out there and today we are urging communities to keep on weaving, but also to start sending in their stars.”

Ms Talia Pau said having the support of a championship winning team, such as the Queensland Firebirds, would help spread the word about the project to netball fans across the country.

“Our goal is to engage communities across the Commonwealth to weave one million stars for an installation during the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games,” Ms Talia Pau said.

“I always love meeting people who are new to our weaving family because every star woven represents light, hope, courage and solidarity in the world.

“I’m so grateful for everyone’s support and urge people to continue weaving because every star counts as we move closer to our goal of reaching one million stars.

“Every star is unique and I’m so excited to see what shape the final public art installation will take.”

Lorna Jane Queensland Firebirds coach Roselee Jencke said the team was more than happy to throw its support behind a project like One Million Stars to End Violence.

“As a team, we’re really privileged to be role models for the wider Queensland netball community and projects like this are something we are very passionate about supporting,” Ms Jencke said.

“Today’s star-weave jam has allowed us to get together as a team and make a contribution towards something that will make a peaceful and powerful statement during the Games.

“We also hope our involvement will spread a really great message through our fan base and will help people to connect through peaceful conversations and of course, star weaving.

“We can’t wait to see the stars we’ve woven here today included in the final installation.”

The One Million Stars to End Violence project was launched by Ms Talia Pau in 2012 as her response to an observation of the escalating occurrence of violence around the globe.

The response to date has been overwhelmingly positive with stars being woven in communities across the world like Nigeria, Canada, Barbados and Australia. To get involved, visit www.onemillionstars.net or contact weave@onemillionstars.net

Media contact: Emma Clarey – 0437 069 516