Indigenous-themed playing apparel is common for winter sports, but not so much during summer, although that is about to change.
Barwon Heads Cricket Club A Grade players are set to don a specially designed playing shirt that highlights the town’s rich First Nations culture on Saturday.
The idea came from player and vice-president Ande Santilli, who teaches at Surfside Primary School, and it seemed like a logical choice to get in touch with two former students to help.
Sisters Jess and Kasey Tattersall are talented artists and proud Wollithiga women from Yorta Yorta Country in Northern Victoria and have lived on Wadawurrung land all their lives.
They formed SistaStudios and when Ande decided to bring the Indigenous-theme to life, he reached out.
The result is a stunning playing kit that reflects the region’s Indigenous history while the pink is for the club’s Pink Stumps Ladies Day, which will raise money for the McGrath Foundation.
“I had a meeting with Ande and (club coach) Dan (Donaldson) and they wanted the design to represent Barwon Heads, the community,” Jess said.
“Obviously, players come from all over the place to play for Barwon Heads, so that’s represented in the artwork as well and it’s for women’s round so the jersey is pink with the Barwon Heads blue.
“There’s water in Barwon Heads, the river, the beaches, so that’s represented. There’s meeting places which represent people coming together, gathering people, the symbols around the artwork, representing the players, the community.”
Despite opening their own studio, Jess and Kasey didn’t enjoy art at school.
“We started SistaStudios about a year and a half ago with a really big passion to create the representation that we didn’t have growing up,” Kasey said.
“We went through school and didn’t have Indigenous art in our uniforms or murals or anything. So we’ve sort of taken that and we want to give that back to the community.”
Ande said he toyed with the idea while asking himself what can the club do to have more representation.
“We don’t have a lot of First Nations players, we have in the past, but I think it’s one thing to say you’re an inclusive club, but to actually walk the walk is more what I’m about,” he said.
“When I reached out to Jess, I really wanted the top to represent Barwon Heads’ natural history as well as modern and ancient history.
“It’s been thousands of years of being a place where people come because of abundance and the natural beauty. I think the girls have done an amazing job.”
The Ladies Day, from 1pm at Village Park pavilion on Saturday January 17, promises to be a lot of fun. Entry is by gold coin and it is open to all. It will feature drinks, high tea, raffles and McGrath Foundation nurse Sue Bowles will speak. Attendees are encouraged to wear pink. See the club’s Facebook and Instagram pages for more information.
Barwon Heads takes on Drysdale in its pink Indigenous shirts at RT Fuller Oval from 1pm. Community Bank Barwon Heads and Community Bank Bellarine (Drysdale) are donating $500 each to the winning team to go to their chosen charity.
