Netball Australia’s First Nations team, the Black Swans, have today revealed the artwork behind their inaugural team dress.
The First Nations Black Swans, featuring 12 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander netballers from across Australia, will make their official debut during next week’s Pacific Netball Series from 10-15 June at Brisbane’s Nissan Arena.
The Gaagulu artwork was created by Yuwaalaraay wirringgaa artist Lucy Simpson.
Simpson’s design work has spanned over a decade, exhibiting her work at museums galleries and institutions locally and abroad.
Her practice connects to narratives of Country through function, materiality and transfer.
Simpson is well recognised for her role as the Creative Director and Principal Designer/ Maker at Gaawaa Miyay.
Established in 2009, Gaawaa Miyay is a First Nations owned and operated studio grounded in Country, experience celebrating relationships, and notions of continuity and exchange.
Simpson said her Gaagulu artwork designed for the Black Swans team embodies the significance of their upcoming netball debut.
“This design was created in honour of the inaugural First Nations national netball team and is dedicated to all the little girls out there playing their hearts out in communities across the country,” she said.
“The Gaagulu design symbolises and embodies a uniquely Australian story, one born of Country, and one of beauty; a continuing story woven into, supported within, and nurtured by community.
“Many lessons are held within the story of Gaagulu, one which speaks of the importance of relationships, as well as narratives of resilience and triumph through adversity.”
Simpson explained the Gaagulu dress design was inspired by the story of the bush banana, a native Australian pear.
“Gaagulu grows on a vine, is adaptive, resilient, and responsive - climbing and holding tight in challenging environments.
“It is a fast-growing native species that thrives in a community when growing in relationship to other plants.
“The Gaagulu story represents notions of strength, connection and wellbeing with robust roots that run deep, a vine which holds strong, and seeds carried across distances from which the next generation will continue to grow.”
In designing the Gaagulu artwork, Simpson said she took inspiration from family, dedicating her piece to her Aunty.
“The art is in honour of my Aunty Jenny Wright, all those that have played at the Jenny Wright netball courts, and those who have been recipients of the Jenny Wright Memorial Shield in Walgett.
“It is also dedicated to all the families who have nurtured talent, skill, passion and the love of this incredible game and made it such a special one for our people.”
The Black Swans will debut this coming Monday at the 2024 Pacific Netball Series. Their first match will be contested at 7pm AEST against Tonga.
All matches will be streamed live and on-demand to Australian and International audiences via NetballPass.
