WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Photo: Nomad Dirt Culture Archives from original newspaper around 1980s. Article stated “Photo courtesy of Nipper Crabb”.
Nomad Dirt Culture acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we live and work, and we pay our respects to their Elders past, present, and emerging.
The private archives of Nomad Dirt Culture have revealed a profound, forgotten milestone of inclusion, courage and pure Australian grit.
A World-First on the Dirt Canvas
We have now shared records document the incredible story of teenage Aboriginal sisters Natalie Dean (17) and Sharna Dean (16). Racing out of Broome, Western Australia, the sisters defied every societal expectation of their era to campaign a massive, ex-Adelaide 1000cc Kawasaki sidecar outfit—with Natalie commanding the handlebars as the rider and Sharna working the chair as the swinger.
Historical documentation from the era asks a definitive question in article:
"IS THIS a first for Australian - or indeed, world - speedway? Two Aboriginal GIRLS riding an outfit!"
At a time when elite motorsport was almost entirely male-dominated, these two young Indigenous women were wrestling a brutal, high-horsepower, 1000cc machine through the clay. They weren't just participating; contemporary reports confirm their track performances were nothing short of "amazing".
This history isn't just sitting silently in a digital file; it has already been brought directly to the birthplace of speedway. During the landmark 2025 Ekka Show, Jocelyn Dare personally shared the Dean sisters' extraordinary stories and archival photos right on the Royal National Agricultural and Industrial Association of Queensland (RNA) grounds.
This exhibition was launched with a clear, singular purpose: preserving the true, uncompromised fabric of Australian motorsport culture.
The RNA was fully aware of this showcase, recognising that Jocelyn Dare was actively respecting and honouring the sisters' legacy on the very grounds where Brisbane's speedway roots were planted. By anchoring this discovery to the historic exhibition grounds, Jocelyn Dare proved that our community's commitment to diverse, groundbreaking heritage is absolute, documented, and recognised by the city's most historic institutions.
Demanding Safe Arenas, Not Street Corners
"This historical fact changes everything," said the Nomad Dirt Culture Editorial Team. "Mainstream media and local councils love to look down on grassroots motorsport, lazily writing off our community under the umbrella of 'hoons.' But look at this archive. Look at Natalie and Sharna. This sport has never been about lawless street behaviour —it is a deeply disciplined, 100-year-old culture that provided a structured, safe and sanctioned arena where anyone with the courage to twist a throttle could break world records."
The story of the Dean sisters highlights the urgent, undeniable crisis facing the next generation of riders. When historic tracks are paved over for commercial developments, it isn't just an inconvenience—it is the systematic erasure of a multicultural, barrier-breaking heritage.
The grassroots community is calling on the Queensland Government and regional councils to look at this history and recognize the absolute necessity of developing new, dedicated regional motorsport parks. If the state wants to keep high-performance machines off community streets, they must provide the sanctioned arenas that allow the next generation of pioneers to thrive safely.
A Deeply Personal Respect for the Land and Culture
Jocelyn’s fierce commitment to honouring First Nations heritage comes from a lifetime of deep, personal connection. Growing up in a mining town Nhulunbuy in the Northern Territory, she lived alongside the land's traditional owners—hunting, eating and learning directly from the Indigenous people on Country.
This bond ran so deep that Jocelyn and her family were formally adopted by the respected Yunupingu family, a cornerstone of Yolngu leadership and culture. Given the Dolphin as her tribal animal, her respect for First Nations people isn't a modern corporate box-ticking exercise; it is a fundamental part of who she is, how she lives and how she steers the narrative of Nomad Dirt Culture.
Professional Transparency, Uncompromised Independence
Nomad Dirt Culture remains completely independent, refusing to side with corporate property interests or commercial venue politics. The platform's sole mission is to bring total professional transparency to the sport, act as the living gatekeeper of its history and ensure the triumphs of its athletes are never forgotten.
The legacy of Natalie and Sharna Dean belongs to the historical fabric of Australia. If traditional city institutions refuse to carry the torch for all pioneers, the grassroots community will carry it forward.
5 comments
Hi i was delighted to read this story about these two legends, im a foster carer working for an aborignal out fit, i proposed a 30k venture that included motor sports on bikes to ingauge some of their at risk children, but at thst time the management was not into it, i even wrote to the pm Albo asking for funding but heard nothing back as i feel motorcycle racing is a positive way of getting some of our youth off the streets and most importantly out of jail, anyways id be happy to see your thoughts on opening up more tracks get off the ground and or keeping the existing tracks open. I even aproched our local Aboriginal lands council here in Bowraville about getting our youth out on the infield of our local horse racing track as it sits idle 95% of the year but nothings come of it either, mindyou the young gun i had living with us was moved on after he broke his arm at a coffs harbour junior moto x event but id hoped hed inguge in speedway as he progressed, at pressent weve got 3 girls under 6 so theres not much moto sport going on here atm, although they are itching to ride our peewe 50, the ttr50 and the legendary 1972 honda z 50 mini trail thats been getting thrashed to an inch of its life by many a kid lol
Anyways cheers
Well done, girls— and all who helped your remarkable progress. A pleasure to contemplate. Nice, too, to note correct history.
Thank you so much for sharing this was definitely one of the best times in my life I started swinging @14 and took over the handlebar at 17 I loved every race meet and raced in the Pilbara sidecar championships and came 3rd was the best thrill ever I miss the Mongrel as we call it#25💝💝
THE International history of speedway, motorcycle racing. Grass track and clay track variations, in Australia has a past of great variety.
Support of this motorsport, outside of -’Cafe Coffee ’ , tourism culture. Much sensational community events, travelling like the circus or boxing, the mechanics institutes and cross cultural identity. Following WW1 & WW2, as AI points out… -“Motorcycle speedway racing was invented and rapidly popularized in Australia following World War I, fundamentally transforming the global motorsport landscape. The sport originated in New South Wales, with the first dedicated meetings held at the West Maitland Showground in December 1923. This initial four-lap experiment around a trotting track pioneered the sideways, dirt-tracking style that eventually took the world by storm.”
I would think happening in suburbia to this day. SA, having a thriving motor sports culture.
We need it off the roads, off the lounges and into the areas where it thrived in the past. Help the young and those with experience to share. Allow, promote, and support the ability for people to develop and maintain, a thriving community engagement. There is a entertaining area of business and societal progression, Speedway offers. Look at the teams of United Kingdom and European countries, that Australia gave this sport to.
Australia champs recently, first second and third… Speedway Champions. 2026. Lead by Jack Holder.