In a moment of personal refection during Sunday’s smoking ceremony at Fremantle Oval, forward Tarnee Tester said she felt both a closer connection to her family back in NSW and her new ‘family’ at Fremantle.

Tester said the sunrise itself was a meaningful moment as she thought about the words spoken by Elder and no.1 ticket holder Dr Richard Walley and Ingrid Cumming, who was the master of ceremony.

“It was absolutely incredible for me personally. I’m away from my family and ‘Uncle’ Richard Walley and Ingrid mentioned that when the sun comes up, it’s like your mother coming to you and surrounding you. I’m certainly a morning person and I think that made me feel like that could be why,” Tester said.

“For me, I miss my family back home and not having my ancestors over here, but the connection I have built with the club and the girls that get around me is something that I’m very thankful for. You guys are all my family, so that makes it a lot easier.”

Tester said it was also important to pay respects to the land where Fremantle will play their home games in 2021.

Freo start the season at Fremantle Oval on Sunday 31 January against GWS.

“I’m a proud Wiljakali woman from the Barkindji nation in New South Wales, from the small town of Broken Hill, so to have a smoking ceremony here and to pay respect to the Wadjuk Noongar ancestors, leaders and emerging leaders is incredible,” Tester said.

“I’m very thankful and I honour stepping onto the ground over here in WA. I pay respect and know that I’m visitor here and I’m very fortunate to get to call it home now.”

The smoking ceremony was performed as a part of Fremantle's Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) which was developed with the assistance of the club's proud Indigenous partner, Woodside.