Wadawurrung artist showcased on Ballarat Miners First Nations Round uniform

The Ballarat Miners have joined Central Highlands Water (CHW) to reveal their new Indigenous uniform as part of NAIDOC Week and this year’s Coles Express NBL1’s First Nations Round. 

Designed by Wadawurrung Traditional Owner Billy-Jay O’Toole, the uniform design tells the story of managing Country together, detailing how Central Highlands Water, works in collaboration with Traditional Owners and Registered Aboriginal Parties. 

As a CHW Choose Tap Ambassador, managing water and Country is also very important to the Ballarat Miners, and their signature navy and gold colours uniform have also been incorporated into Billy-Jay’s overall design. The centrepiece of the uniform is Bunjil the totem of Wadawurrung Country, with rivers, reservoirs and creeks represented throughout the uniform. CHW is represented as the large circle on the left with the 4 Registered Aboriginal Parties groups they work with. The brown line signifies the ochre and to the left are the mountains which run through the different Traditional Owners’ Countries with the eucalyptus leaf incorporated to represent cleansing. 

The player issue uniforms will be worn as part of the Coles Express NBL1 South First Nations Round at Selkirk Stadium this Saturday night from 6:00 pm when the Ballarat Miners Women’s and Men’s teams take on Keilor Thunder. 

Click here to purchase tickets to this weekend

IMAGE: Zac Dunmore, Paul O'Donohue, Billy-Jay O'Toole, William Hynes

Following Indigenous Round the uniforms will be auctioned online with proceeds going towards the continued support of the Ballarat Miners Aboriginal programs. Bidding will take place on the Ballarat Miners online auction website and close on Wednesday 27 July, 2022. 

Quotes attributed to Wadawurrung Traditional Owner Billy-Jay O’Toole. 

“Being able to share the story of caring for water and County, through the Ballarat Miners uniforms design is extremely exciting.” 

“As a proud Wadawurrung man it is a privilege to work on Country every day, connecting back to our ancestors and gaining knowledge and stories of my traditional lands so to see my design out on the court as part of NAIDOC week with the Ballarat Miners is something I am very proud of.” Page 2 

Quotes attributed to Central Highlands Water Managing Director Paul O’Donohue. 

“We are proud to collaborate with Billy-Jay O’Toole, and the Ballarat Miners, to launch the new Indigenous uniforms for this weekend’s NBL1 South First Nations Round.” 

“CHW is committed to our ongoing reconciliation journey and working closely with Traditional Owners for positive outcomes. Seeing Billy-Jay’s original Managing Country Together painting further come to life on the Ballarat Miners uniforms is great way to celebrate NAIDOC Week.” 

Quotes attributed to Basketball Ballarat CEO Neville Ivey 

“It has been great to work with Central Highlands Water and continue our partnership. Their ability to introduce us to Billy-Jay and allow us to use the artwork from their RAP is a privilege and the club is excited to showcase this in the NBL1 South.” 

The design in Billy-Jay O’Toole’s own words: 

“Managing Country Together – by Billy-Jay O’Toole 

This artwork is about managing Country together, sharing the story of Central Highlands Water working with Traditional Owners and Registered Aboriginal Parties as well as including the signature navy and gold of the Ballarat Miners. 

Central Highlands Water is represented as the large circle on the left-hand side along with the 4 Registered Aboriginal Party groups they work with. 

I’ve added different elements to Country: our rivers, our reservoirs, our creeks. The brown line represents our ochre and on the left-hand side are our mountains that run through a few different Traditional Owners’ Countries. I’ve also incorporated the eucalyptus leaf which is a part of cleansing. Bunjil is our totem here on Wadawurrung Country and I have included that in my artwork. The artwork was produced to showcase Reconciliation Week, which is about working together for better outcomes.”