Sport
2 December, 2025
Young lives in focus on court
THE 13th annual Diamonds in the Sky suicide intervention carnival lit up Innisfail State College, with teams going head to head in thrilling battles for basketball supremacy.
This year’s DITS carnival took place on September 13, just three days after world suicide prevention day – creating hope through action.
At the opening ceremony, master of ceremonies Lachlan Kovacich welcomed everyone, Travis Ambrum led the opening prayer, followed by an opening message by Community Owned Response to Eliminating Suicide (CORES) Australia facilitator and DITS director Bronwyn Philpot and an official speech by Cassowary Coast Regional Council Mayor Teresa Millwood.
This year’s carnival featured four men’s teams, four under 18 boys’ and three ladies under-18 teams, including a team from Mareeba.
In the women’s under-18 basketball final, Black Diamonds prevailed over Starlets. Fast Breakers won the under-18 division against Hoop There It Is, while Tamika’s Memorial won the men’s basketball over Allstarz in the final.
This year’s guest speaker was Ross Romeo, the Queensland coordinator for CORES Australia who has been involved with the carnival since it started in 2012.
Mr Romeo delivered a powerful speech where he reiterated: “If we do not take care of ourselves how are we going to be able to be able to be there for others?”
Mr Romeo has lived in the Burdekin region all his life and spent over 30 years as a cane farmer, before turning his focus to supporting the community in new ways.
CORES Australia, a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to suicide prevention, a cause very close to his heart after losing his best friend in 2005.
Mr Romeo is a qualified counsellor and school chaplain, volunteering his time and care to young people and families. Highlights of the day included, Roaming Wild animal encounters, Bracks Indigenous clothing, Mamu Health Service, food and community stalls, careers expo, live music by DJ SWISS, as well as a jumping castle, face painting, balloon art and barbeque lunch.
Award winners:
Men’s
Best and fairest: Caylin Epong-Walker (Phoenix)
Sportsperson award: Dominic Patterson (Allstarz)
Under-18 girls
Best and fairest: Jessie Murgha (Starlets)
Sportsperson award: Lyla Sambo (Black Diamonds)
Under-18 boys
Best and fairest: Kade Budd (Hoop There It Is)
Sportsperson award: Jonathan Patterson (Hot Shots)
In 2012, the community stood together to address the rise of suicide when they formed a basketball and touch football carnival which they named Diamonds in the Sky - Suicide Intervention Carnival.
The aim of the carnival is to provide education, awareness and intervention strategies to tackle suicide in local and surrounding regions. It hopes to reach out to community members through participation in sport.