Ballarat reveal Indigenous Jersey

The Hotondo Homes Ballarat Miners and Selkirk Ballarat Rush today proudly launched their 2021 Indigenous Jersey ahead of the NBL1 Indigenous Round this weekend.

Designed by Jayden Lillyst, the jersey features ‘Bala Arat’ which is the Wadawaurring wording for ‘Resting Place’ and shows how the significance of the area being a stopping place for people.

"Even though I'm anywhere between Gunditjmara country out near Heywood and the city, this area is always seen as the stop off place for myself and friends.” Lillyst said.

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For Lillyst, he spoke about how he had designed the jersey so the younger people could look, learn and understand its meaning.

"It's for them to say, 'I know what those colours mean, I know what that flag means', it gives a presence for our culture," he said.

"These are all things that point to health, our art keeps us healthy, our country keeps us healthy and sport keeps us healthy in mind, body and soul. Steps like this from sporting organisations help that on a community level."Lillyst said.

IMAGE: Claire Constable, William Hickey, Jasmine Simmons, Zac Dunmore and Annie Collins. PHOTO: Ian Wilson

Selkirk Ballarat Rush players Alicia Froling and Jasmine Simmons joined Hotondo Homes Ballarat Miner William Hickey reveal the jersey on Wednesday at the Ballarat Wildlife Park with some native animals.

Hotondo Homes Ballarat Miner player William Hickey was thrilled to be able to wear the jersey on Saturday Night.

"The thing that I'm proudest of is my culture, I'm a strong, proud Indigenous man and this jersey is something I'll take great pride in wearing.”

"Being an indigenous man, culture is the number one thing I take part in, I'm that before a basketball player.

"I love the jersey, especially being able to get a local artist to design it." Hickey said.

Selkirk Ballarat Rush Player Alicia Froling commented on the how proud the women’s program will be to wear the jersey over the weekend.

"It's great that we're recognising the first people of our land and we're showing kids that there is a pathway that they can do anything they want. The design is awesome. I love Indigenous art, it looks great and it will be a really cool thing for us to wear," Froling said.

IMAGE: Alicia Froling with 'Honey Bun' the Southern Hairy-Nosed wombat. 

About the Design by Jayden Lillyst

"The idea behind this design is to signify the importance of the Aboriginal Flag to the Aboriginal community here in Ballarat. I’ve used ‘Bala Arat’, being Wadawurrung for ‘Resting Place’. What better way to acknowledge the First Nations here in Ballarat than to keep their Language alive on their Country. ‘Balla Arat/Resting Place’ also brings to mind the idea of how many Australians have found Ballarat to be their own resting places on their Journeys. From my family stopping off in Ballarat on our trips from Melbourne to Heywood, to the rich history of mining, immigrants and settlers also ‘Resting’ here. The pathways on the bottom portray those journeys, and are coloured in white to acknowledge the spirituality of those journeys."

Media Conference at the Wildlife Park Ballarat