Junior Football Clubs celebrate NAIDOC with jumper designWednesday, August 2, 2023 - 11:28 AM

Junior football clubs across Western Australia shared in NAIDOC celebrations through a range of cultural activities including hosting Smoking Ceremonies, Welcome to Country and the creation of specially designed along with the addition of Indigenous designed jumpers.

Clubs within the Regional Development Councils had the opportunity to design and wear their Indigenous jumpers during their NAIDOC Round in July, courtesy of funding from Rio Tinto - WA Football's NAIDOC Round partner.

This project saw many clubs reach out to local Elders, Aboriginal artists and community groups to share the story of their football club’s journey and their place in the community.

Baldivis Junior Football Club in the Metro South conference commissioned iconic Indigenous artist Kevin Bynder to design their NAIDOC jumper.

During this year's NAIDOC celebration, the Club extended their efforts beyond designing an Indigenous jumper and took the initiative to contribute to the community through the sale of these jumpers. 

This resulted in the Club raising over $12,000, which was directed towards supporting the Medina Aboriginal Community Centre and Kunnunurra Junior Football Club.

The jumper’s design pays homage to the Club’s patrons.

“The two boomerangs represent the players, staff and supporters who continue the Club’s success,” Bynder said.

“The three large circles represent the teams from Auskick through to up-and-coming AFL stars, while the middle circle represents the seniors at the club who won the 2017 League premiership and 2019 Reserves premiership.

The last circle represents the juniors, who have won six premierships each of those six winning teams are represented in the six circles at the bottom of the jumper. 

Bassendean Junior Football Club is based in NAIDOC jumper has been designed by local Whadjuk Noongar lady Sarah Humphries. 

“The design’s story consists of our original oval BIC Reserve and traveling to our present oval Jubilee Reserve,” Humphries said.

“The ‘U’ shape represents the people gathered around a meeting place/site, while the hands and the starts/specks represent and pay respect to Phil ‘Magic’ Narkle, past player at Bassendean JFC and West Australian Football Commission’s Aboriginal Program Manager.

“The Malee (Swan and Bassendean JFC logo) at the bottom with its wings open depicts strength and protection, and the Derbarl Yerrigan (Swan River) connects the surrounding communities.”

Metro North’s Marist Junior Football Club had their jumper designed by Valerie Ah Chee, a proud Bindjareb Yorga woman from the Pinjarra area who is connected to the Palkyu mob in the Pilbara through her maternal grandfather.

The design represents the history of the Marist Football Club with the two Nations of Yuat and Whadjuk showing where Marist began and where it is now, as well as featuring a football-shaped Aboriginal Flag on the front of the jumper. 

“The Wagyl, the creator and protector of the waterways is represented on the top of the jumper,” Ah Chee said.

“The stream runs down the middle of the oval and flows beneath the 14 circles representing the 14 Nyoongar Nations.

“The hills around Boorloo are also represented on either side of the stream flowing downward.

The back of the jumper depicts the travel the Club’s players embark on to play football. 

This year saw an increase in junior football clubs wearing NAIDOC jumpers an initiative supported by Rio Tinto, WA Football’s NAIDOC Round partner.