Tarnee Tester
22 January 1993
Tarnee is a proud Wilyakali Barkandji woman and a traditional custodian of Broken Hill. Tarnee and her two older brothers were raised by their mother and grandmothers, her family played a significant role in shaping the person she is today. Tarnee completed her schooling in Broken Hill and went on to work in the health industry, gaining Aboriginal Health and Pathology qualifications with Maari Ma Health. From a young age, Tarnee dreamt of being successful and she believed that in order to do so, she needed to be different, placing high importance on respecting her community and herself. She aspired to be an AFL player and a Police Officer and with a lot of hard work and sacrifice, she is well on her way to achieving both. Tarnee is currently employed as a cadet with the Western Australia Police Force.
Broken Hill is where her dream of playing AFL begun. Tarnee played in the Auskick competition from U6’s to U12’s with West Broken Hill Football Club. She recalls being selected for representative teams and winning multiple awards such as best and fairest, leading goal kicker and most consistent in her junior footy. Unfortunately, in 2005 Tarnee was no longer able to play with the boys and had to give up the sport she loved due to there being no female competition, taking to basketball instead. Tarnee had to wait until 2012 before she was able to lace up the boots again with the commencement of the Broken Hill Women’s Competition. From 2012 to 2016, Tarnee showed her class, winning multiple best and fairest awards, club MVP’s, being selected in teams of the year and leading goal kicker awards. Tarnee was also the first female player to play 50 games in Broken Hill and the first to kick 10 goals in a game. Tarnee wanted to take her footy to the next level and so she made the move to Perth, nominating herself for the Fremantle Football Club’s Talent Search. After being selected for the Western Australian Football Commission’s Development Program and playing in the Western Australian Football League’s Women’s Competition (WAFLW), Tarnee’s ultimate dream became reality when she was drafted at pick 56 to the West Coast Eagles Football Club in its inaugural year. Tarnee debuted in round one of the 2020 season and moved onto the Fremantle Football Club in 2021 as a free agent. Tarnee put Broken Hill’s AFL women’s talent on the map, motivating others to dream big when it comes to AFLW and inspiring others to lead a healthier and happier lifestyle.
AWARDS & MILESTONES
- WAFLW 2019 Joanne Huggins Leading Goal Kicker.
- Two-time A-Grade Melville Cricket Club fielding award.
- South Fremantle Football Club 2019 runner up best and fairest.
- South Fremantle Football Club 2019 leading goal kicker.
- Selected for the 2017 leadership group for South Fremantle Football Club.
- Four-time AFL Broken Hill women’s team of the year.
- West Broken Hill Football Club 2016 best and fairest
- Organised North Broken Hill Football Club’s first indigenous guernsey for all grades.
- Three-time AFL Broken Hill women’s leading goalkicker.
- Four-time North Broken Hill Football Club leading goal kicker.
- AFL Broken Hill 2015 fifth best and fairest.
- Co-Captain of the 2015 North Broken Hill Women’s Team.
- AFL Broken Hill’s first female to play 50 games.
- AFL Broken Hill’s first female to kick 10 goals in a game.
- Two-time North Broken Hill Football Club most valuable player.
- 2014 AFL Broken Hill second best and fairest.
- 2014 North Broken Hill Football Club women’s best and fairest.
- Captain of the 2014 North Broken Hill Women’s Team.
- AFL Broken Hill women’s 2013 third best and fairest.
- Co-Captain of the 2013 North Broken Hill Women’s Team.
- Two-time North Broken Hill Football Club third best and fairest.
- Best on Ground in the 2012 Broken Hill vs Port Lincoln exhibition match
- Won the 2012 Aboriginal NAIDOC Sporting Achievement Award at the Broken Hill NAIDOC Ball.
SPORTING HISTORY
2021
- Played for the Freemantle Football Club.
2020
- AFLW debut for West Coast Eagles Football Club – round 1, February 7nd, West Coast vs Collingwood.
- Delisted from West Coast Eagles Football Club.
- Signed as a free agent with Fremantle Football Club.
2019
- Drafted to West Coast Eagles Football Club’s inaugural team at pick 56.
- Played A-Grade cricket for the Melville Cricket Club.
- Represented Western Australia at the National Indigenous Championship Carnival in Alice Springs.
- Played for Subiaco Women’s Football Club in the WAFLW.
- Selected for WAFLW All-Stars match vs Western Australia State U18’s.
- Selected for WAFLW All Stars match vs Queensland.
- Selected for Fremantle Football Club Academy Training.
2017 – 2018
- Played for South Fremantle Football Club in the WAFLW.
2016
- Selected for Western Australia Football Commission Development Program.
- Nominated self for the Fremantle Football Club Talent Search.
2013 – 2014
- Played in the AFL Broken Hill women’s grand final.
2012
- Played in the AFL Broken Hill women’s grand final.
- Represented Broken Hill in an AFL exhibition match against Port Lincoln in Adelaide.
- Played in inaugural season of women’s football in Broken Hill.
