The Purple hands Foundation and the Fremantle Football Club headed back to Broome for the fifth year of the Kimberley 9s beach carnival, with day one of the two-day carnival taking place on Wednesday. 

The carnival took place on Broome’s Cable Beach and is part of the wider “Kimberley Connected” program, which has been proudly supported by WA Police since 2021. 

The program has seen schools from across the Kimberley take part in workshops encouraging students to attend school and make positive choices for themselves and their community.

The Kimberley 9s serves as a reward for those who have participated in Kimberley Connected workshops throughout 2025.

Fremantle players Bailey Banfield, Michael Frederick, Pat Voss, and AFLW rookie Holly Egan joined the carnival, marking the most Fremantle players present since its inception. 

Alongside the players and countless staff and volunteers, this year's carnival featured special guests AFL Chief Executive Officer Andrew Dillon and WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch, who helped officiate and umpire the games.

Day one featured primary-aged students who participated in a round-robin-style football carnival, with students wearing specially designed 2025 Kimberley 9s shirts created from a winning design by a student who took part in the Kimberley Connected program throughout the year. 

The students also took part in health and wellbeing workshops, provided by program partner Containers for Change, alongside local Broome Aboriginal Health organisations. 

An addition this year has been Cultural Learning provided by Broome Youth and Families Hub. A special appearance by Noongar Hip Hop star Flewnt entertained and gave a boost to the kids in attendance.

Travelling around 2,000km from Cockburn to Cable Beach, Premier Partner DP World helped deliver all of the equipment the Purple Hands Foundation team needed for the event - including marquees, footballs, signage, field marking ribbons and so much more. 

Dillon, who was attending his first Kimberley 9s carnival expressed his excitement for the event.

“It’s an incredible event,” Dillon said. 

“You come down here on a day like today and see how good it is, but you think about all the work that must have gone into it. 

“Having chatted to Simon (Garlick) and a few of the other people who have been right behind it, it’s actually been a year-long program, working with the boys and girls in schools, making sure they get their attendance, behaviour, and the like up. 

A standout for Dillion was the scenic backdrop for the carnival on Broome’s iconic Cable Beach. 

“It’s an incredible beach and a natural asset of Australia, and then to be able to bring Australia’s game to a place like this is really a credit to the Purple Hands Foundation and Freo for leading the way on that,” Dillon said. 

“And then to the partners that have been able to make it happen, like WA Police, RAC, and the others. 

“I got out there umpiring - there was plenty of talent out there and a few different rules as well, so I had to get myself up to speed on them, but look, it was great to be involved in a small way. 

“It’s amazing to see Pat (Voss), Michael (Frederick), Bailey (Banfield), and Holly (Egan) in the way they’ve given up their time during their leave period, but then how they engage with the boys and girls and how much the boys and girls look up to them.” 

As always, the annual Kimberley 9s event would not be possible without countless volunteers and partners who moved mountains and invested in the program.

EVENT PARTNERS AND SUPPORTERS     

MAJOR FUNDING PARTNERS 

WA Police: Our major funder since 2021, using the power of sport to break down barriers and assisting with umpiring, student interaction and more. 

Containers for Change: Delivering 'caring for country' workshops for all students in the lead up to the carnival and interactive workshops at the carnival. 

Shire of Broome: Carnival funding and logistics support. 

Kimberley Regional Service Providers: Carnival funding and logistical support 

Goodeve Foundation: Carnival funding 

Variety WA: Student Dining Experience funding and volunteering 

Harcourts and the Paz Family: for providing funds to make the carnival more inclusive 

Programmed: Carnival funding, logistical support and volunteering 

Kimberley Marine Support Base: Carnival funding 

Scott Bader: Carnival funding  

Broome Surf Club: Providing their space and equipment to help the carnival run smoothly 

THANK YOU ALSO TO THE MANY ORGANISATIONS WHO CHIPPED IN TO HELP 

DP World: Transport logistics partner, assisting with getting all of the equipment to Broome  

WA All Abilities Football Association: for again ensuring everyone can participate and running inclusive football games at the carnival and providing volunteers to assist with set up and pack down. 

Garnduwa: Carnival assistance and volunteers  

WA Football: On the ground assistance 

Broome PCYC: Supporting with accommodation and providing catering to all the travelling students 

Safestyle sunglasses: Providing 550 pairs of sunglasses to the event 

Yawuru: For all your guidance and support  

Cable Beach Club Resort: Providing discounted staff accommodation 

SEDA Group: Providing a team of student volunteers 

Woolworths: Catering, on the ground support  

Bankwest: Providing caps for giveaways  

RAC: Providing footballs for giveaways  

KAMS & Broome Headspace: Carnival workshops promoting education and awareness of mental health strategies. 

BRAMS: Carnival workshop promoting anti-smoking and vaping 

Alive & Kicking Goals: Education around antibullying and leadership  

Broome Youth and Family Hub: for delivering some cultural learning to our travelling students 

Coates Hire: Equipment donation 

Curtin University: Giveaways participants