This weekend, the Hampden Football Netball League will celebrate Indigenous Round — a special occasion that honors the contributions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to our games of football and netball. Clubs will don specially designed Indigenous jumpers and netball bibs that reflect and celebrate culture, connection, and community. Those hosting matches will also commemorate the round with additional tributes and acknowledgements, further strengthening the bond between local sport and Indigenous heritage. Below are some of the club’s football and netball bibs that will be worn, which is accompanied by the story of the designs
Port Fairy
Artist – Amelia Bell (ameliabell_art )
Football Jumper
Front of the Jumper – The V of the jumper has possum skin cloak panels. The possum skin cloak is
a very important and sacred piece to Gunditjmara country, which has been
carried through many generations and has very significant importance to the
culture.
The center piece is a gathering circle, showing many people gathering from
many different places to meet at one location together.
Back of the Jumper – The back of the jumper represents the coastline and environment of Port Fairy. The whale showing significance to Port Fairy.
And the lines and circles showing key features of the coast being rocks, sand and waterways etc.
Netball Bib
The multiple circles surrounding the bibs represent groups coming together and working together as a team. The groups of circles around the bib represents people coming from all different backgrounds and coming together as one.
Photo Credit: Port Fairy Football Netball Club
Portland Tigers
Artist – Saige Bell – Yuuitch Peetch Yakeen
The Indigenous design tells the story based on our club and the history around our area, Gunditjmara Country. The bottom left of the jumper is a meeting place resembling our club, and it also has possum tracks around it because it was originally played with a possum skin ball. The top right has men and women symbols for the footballers and supporters; there is also a kangaroo track for the Sherrin football that we play with today, made from kangaroo leather. The middle patterns are from our local possum cloak our ancestors put together; they would add a patch when they would travel that represents our travels and what we have achieved at the club.
