The Adelaide Thunderbirds have revealed its 2020 Indigenous dress design ahead of its return to Queensland for the final two rounds of the season.
The dress – which the athletes will wear as they take on the Swifts in Round 13 on Saturday – was designed by Kaurna/Narungga and Ngarrindjeri artist Carly Dodd.
For Carly, portraying the significance of connection in sport was the key factor in developing her unique design.
“I connected with the Thunderbirds because I used to play netball throughout school, so I was really excited to work on the project,” Carly said.
“I really wanted to incorporate a sense of community and connection because in a team sport that’s really important.”
Throughout the design process, Carly had one mantra at the forefront of her mind: there is no ‘I’ in team.
In addition to celebrating the athletes’ connections with each other, she also wanted to pay tribute to the influence of the Pink Army and the team behind the team.
“There are a lot of circle and dots that represent the team’s connection as well as the supporters, the coaches, the trainers and everyone involved,” Carly said.
“It’s really exciting, I always find it interesting to see my art come to life.
“After looking at it on a screen, being able to see it on the dress and on the players, it’s pretty crazy.”
All teams across the Suncorp Super Netball will wear their own Indigenous dresses this weekend as the league celebrates Indigenous Round.
The 2020 theme is “A Women’s Ceremony – a gathering of many journeys at the same destination”.
Although this narrative was created long before the announcement of a Queensland hub, it now has additional relevance with all teams travelling to Far North Queensland.
The theme stemmed from the artwork that was especially designed by Wurundjeri/Yorta-Yorta woman Simone Thomson for the round’s match ball.
Thomson shared the inspirational story behind the ball design that will feature throughout Round 13.
“I want every female who holds this ball to identify with it, to feel empowered, to feel the spirit of the oldest living culture on earth on their shoulders and to rise like a warrior,” Thompson said.
“I want them to grip it in their fingers and feel the smile from within, the chill on their skin.
“Whether they play barefoot in the red desert dust, in the bushland along the riverbank or with professional shoes on a polished indoor court – I want them to feel special, worthy – able.
“This is my dreaming story of Women’s Ceremony, a gathering of many journeys to the same destination.
“It’s a celebration of anything is possible and self-belief, a celebration of coming together as community and acknowledging the sacredness of this land.
“And lastly, it’s a celebration of inspiration. For we look to the inspiring to be inspired.”
