DARREN MONCRIEFF
Friday 18 May 2012
WOTJOBALUK man Stuart Harradine's bonds with Richmond Football Club have strengthened with his jumper design voted the winning entry for the club's Dreamtime at the 'G match with Essendon tomorrrow.
Harradine, of the Wimmera in Western Victoria, was this week announced as the winning designer of the 2012 Dreamtime guernsey.
He received a $5000 Federal Government grant to assist with further training and development.
He said as a long-time supporter his feelings for the club are now stronger.
"As an Aboriginal person, I am especially proud of the impact that Indigenous players like the great Maurice Rioli and the dynamic Michael Mitchell had on the club and, during those times, I gained no small satisfaction in knowing I barracked for a club that valued Aboriginal football talent," Harradine said.
"Now, with the inception of the Dreamtime game and the establishment of the Korin Gamadji Institute, my feelings of connection as an Aboriginal man to the mighty Tigers are even stronger."
Harradine's guernsey design (pictured) is based on the traditional Australian Indigenous linear symbolism, representing topographic features, dreaming pathways, spiritual energies in the landscape, and known boundaries between tribes.
These designs are used on weapons, including fighting clubs, boomerangs and parrying shields.
The sharp angles are typically masculine and evoke the hardness and energy of the traditional Aboriginal warrior, making this design worthy of Richmond's 'football warriors' of today.
Richmond revealed the specially-designed guernsey for tomorrow night's Dreamtime at the 'G match in the Maurice Rioli Room at the Korin Gamadji Institute this week.
The event was attended by The Long Walk founder, and Essendon premiership player, Michael Long, AFL community engagement manager, Jason Mifsud, AFL Indigenous program manager at AFL Victoria, Leon Egan, the partner of Prime Minister Julia Gillard, Tim Mathieson, and Simon Crean, minister for the arts, who was the keynote speaker at Richmond's inaugural Dreamtime function.
While it is the second consecutive year the Richmond Dreamtime guernsey has featured an Indigenous design, the 2012 version was the result of the club's decision to run a competition for aspiring Indigenous artists to supply their own original designs.
The club received dozens of submissions, before the winning entry was voted on by a judging panel, which included Aunty Joy Murphy, Leon Egan and the designer of the club's 2011 version jumper, artist Jirrra Harvey.
"The Richmond Football Club recognised the opportunity the Dreamtime at the 'G game provided and wanted to find a way to further demonstrate its commitment to, and support of, Indigenous Australia," Richmond CEO, Brendon Gale, said.
"We did so with the development of the inaugural Dreamtime guernsey in 2011. It was exceptionally well received and we wanted to build on that."
All proceeds raised from the sale of the Tigers' 2012 Dreamtime guernsey will support the club's Indigenous programs.
AboriginalFootball@westnet.com.au
Last Modified on 20/05/2012 20:45