INVERLEIGH will launch its inaugural First Nations jumper for the Round 8 clash against Belmont in the Geelong District Football Netball League.
The special match at Morton Power Oval coincides with the AFL’s Sir Doug Nichols Round and National Reconciliation Week.
Inverleigh Football Netball Club president David Haste said the club values a united community, with a focus on respect and inclusion.
“It is in the spirit of these values that we have teamed up with Tarryn Love, a rising First Nations artist and whose brother Jarrod is vice-captain in our senior team, to launch our Inaugural First Nations jumper,” he said.
Tarryn is an emerging artist of the Gunditjmara Keerray Woorroong people and said the jumper is her and Jarrod’s “collaboration and celebration, not only of the Inverleigh Hawks, but also a celebration of our culture and First Nations people.”
The jumper design features a hawk (ngeeyangarra) above the junction of the Inverleigh and Barwon Rivers, in the club’s colours of brown and gold.
“My work represents the distinctiveness of Gunditjmara ways of Knowing, Being and Doing that is not one way but constantly happening and changing”, Tarryn said.
Jarrod said the design came about from brainstorming ideas with his sister over a few weekends, with the artistic work being all hers.
“I’m really proud that Inverleigh has taken it on board,” he said.
“It’s going to be awesome to see all the jumpers out there. I know a few of the guys at Belmont, and they are really supportive of what we’re trying to do.”
“Belmont has strong ties with the Wathurong and this will be a great time to launch our First Nations jumper,” Haste said.
“We plan to have Tarryn present the jumpers to the players in the week preceding the game.”
Both Belmont and Inverleigh will play this weekend after having a week off during the GDFNL split round, with the Hawks hosting Werribee Centrals and East Geelong to play host to the Lions.
Twitter: @krockfootball
