Marcia Ella-Duncan, a Yuin and Bidjigal woman, has etched her name in history as the first Indigenous scholarship holder at the Australian Institute of Sport and the first Indigenous woman to represent Australia in international netball. Growing up in a family of sports stars, she quickly made her mark, first at the NSW Under-21 level, then making a significant impact on the international stage during the 1986 England tour and the 1987 World Championships in Scotland, securing 18 Test caps for Australia.

Beyond the Court

Marcia’s contributions extend far beyond the netball court, with a deep commitment to Aboriginal affairs across criminal justice, community development, and land management. Her passion notably shines in family and child well-being, where she has led efforts as chair of the NSW Aboriginal Child Sexual Assault Taskforce and contributed to various advisory panels, harnessing the power of sport to foster community health, self-worth, and pride.

Recognition and Legacy

In recognition of her services to netball and her community, Marcia was honored with the Order of Australia Medal in 1988 and later inducted into the Australian Netball Hall of Fame in 2015. Her leadership continued to evolve as she was elected to the Netball Australia Board in 2017, advocating for Indigenous netballers and youth, embodying her lifelong dedication to sport and social change.