The Founder of the Naarm Melbourne based Koorie Academy Ricky Baldwin has taken his basketball clinics on a tour of remote Western New South Wales.
The Gunai Kurnai man from Lake Tyers says only 26 children go to school in Ivanhoe and the principal is an Aboriginal woman who asked him to come and run a clinic.
"She told us, 'Ricky, the kids out here get forgotten about'," he told NITV.
"So to go out there and run a clinic and see what it meant to them and engage them and gift the Koori Academy merch, it's very rewarding and impactful work.”
The Koorie Academy also visited the small towns of Wilcannia, Menindee and Dareton.
In places where children often lack opportunities that city kids take for granted, the clinics provide a chance to engage in sport and culture.
Uncle Ricky Baldwin said he leaned into this year's NAIDOC Week theme while speaking with the children.
“We really reiterated '50 years of Deadly', and you be proud of who you are, and celebrating Black excellence.”
One such example of Blak excellence is William “Davo” Hickey.
Uncle Ricky mentored the Wiradjuri and Gamilaroi man, all the way from his home in Redfern to a professional contract with the Melbourne Tigers.
Hickey's is currently playing with the famed Los Angeles Lakers in the 2026 NBA Summer League.
Uncle Ricky told the children in Western NSW that Davo Hickey’s success is an example of what can happen when mob support mob.
Seeing how happy the children are, and being thanked by local Elders for coming to their towns, has Uncle Ricky Baldwin wanting to run more clinics.
"Our government and country need to do a lot better funding programs where these kids can get engaged throughout the year, not just once off," he said.
"Because you see the impact you have with them.”
