For the third year in a row local-born Indigenous artist Chern’ee Sutton has been selected to design the NRL’s Indigenous All Stars Jerseys for both the women’s and men’s teams for the 2017 All Stars game.
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At the launch of the jerseys and selected teams this week in Sydney Ms Sutton explained the meaning behind the jerseys to be worn by the likes of Greg Inglis and Johnathan Thurston.
“My painting is called “Thaamu, Caina Putut, Ilyla, Wartanganha” which means in the Kalkadoon language ‘Totems, Long ago, Today, Tomorrow,” Ms Sutton said.
“My painting represents the sacred and spiritual connection that all Indigenous people have with their totems from long ago, today and to tomorrow.
Ms Sutton said the totems represented the sacred and spiritual connection the players had with their culture, the past, the present and the future.
“These totems give the players pride and passion as they take to the field to do battle with some totems representing players from the past that still look down and give strength and guidance to the team,” she said.
The totems included from the past are the Bunya Nut Tree and Native Honey Bee which represent Rugby league Legend and Bronzed Immortal Arthur Beetson, the Carpet Snake represents Indigenous All Stars founder and League Legend Preston Campbell.
The totems from the present represent the current playing group through the Emu, the Praying Mantis and the Wedge Tailed Eagle.
The totems included for the future players are the Kangaroo, the Goanna and the turtle.
The 20-year-old Kalkadoon artist went to school in Mount Isa and now lives in Bundaberg and her contemporary Indigenous artwork has been exhibited in Tokyo, Hong Kong and Singapore.
She said she was delighted to have her artwork and story chose again for this significant game.
“It is such an honour to see not only the players taking to the field wearing my artwork proudly but to also see all the spectators and supporters wearing their jerseys with passion and pride,” she said.
The Indigenous All Stars vs World All Stars game is at Newcastle on February 10.
Derek Barry
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
