The story of “Giv’ǐr Wun’bumba”

By Sophie Taylor

Believe.

A strong sentiment, and one that resonates closely with this year’s First Nations Round artist, Zartisha Davis.

Born and raised on the Sunshine Coast on Kabi Kabi Country, Davis is a proud Kabi Kabi, Cobble Cobble and Butchulla woman.

Titled “Giv’ǐr Wun’bumba” (Believe), this year’s artwork represents togetherness and moving forward, as Suncorp Super Netball celebrates its 10th year.

Giv’ǐr Wun’bumba, meaning “believe” in Kabi Kabi language, incorporates bright blues and yellows, combining the ancient with the contemporary.

The artwork takes inspiration from Davis’ family and is particularly rooted in community, teamwork, sharing, and the story of the shell midden.

For Davis, telling and honouring the stories of her country are vital, especially through her artwork.

“I'm a saltwater woman, coming from the Mooloolah clan here on the Sunshine Coast, so I paint a lot of saltwater stories, particularly the shell middens,” Davis explained.

“A lot of our shell middens sites were destroyed, so it's really important to try and keep these stories alive through art, through storytelling.

“The message of them is so beautiful; it's community, it's gathering, it's sharing.

“So what a beautiful message to have within the artwork that we can share with wider community and portray those messages of togetherness.”

Shell middens, waterways, and totem animals such as the kangaroo and emu are key symbols displayed in the artwork.

The large shell midden on the bottom left-hand side was painted in 10 layers to represent the 10 years of SSN, while the three smaller shell middens in the top right-hand corner represent the players and the wider netball community, and the growth to come.

“The shell midden piles are not just remnants of shells and our existence along these coasts, they also represent caring for Country and caring for one another, and sharing in community,” Davis said.

“The first fact I learned about shell middens when I was younger was when scientists drilled into one layer of shell midden, it was 10,000 years old, and each layer is older and older.

“I really love that double meaning, educating how these shell middens are ancient sites and how each layer was older than the next.

“This represents the 10 years of Suncorp Super Netball, but it's also a double meaning with the history of shell middens as well.”

Along with the importance of representing netball and its community in her artwork, Davis has also represented her own family, roots and connection to Country.

“My totem of this area is kangaroo,” she explained.

“It was nice to include the emu too because it's on our coat of arms and both of these animals don't step backwards, they only go forward.

“I thought that was a really nice message to have within the painting, along with our watering holes that nurture us, and the people and places that we go to in our lives that nurture us.”

Raised by her great-grandmother for the first five years of her life and surrounded by aunties and uncles, Davis has always been deeply entrenched in her Kabi Kabi roots.

Her works incorporate elements very close to home. 

“My family's river is the Mooloolah River, so you'll see me painting the Mooloolah River a lot through the centre of a lot of my artworks,” she said.

“My great-grandmother's grandmother was actually born on the banks of the Mooloolah River, so it's very significant to our family.

“My connection to Country influences how I create very heavily – growing up, being born and raised here on Country with my nan, growing up with my aunties and uncles and being told the stories of this landscape.

“My connection to Country pours through my art and then back out to me.

“It’s very reciprocal and the connection is very strong.”

Davis was thrilled to be commissioned by Netball Australia, having established herself with the Sunshine Coast Lightning in recent years, designing their past two First Nations Round dresses.

“It was a bit sad to say goodbye to them because we've built such an amazing relationship with the players and staff over the last two years,” she said.

“It's really exciting and it's such an amazing opportunity for any Indigenous person to be able to showcase their art on such a high level.

“It inspires the next generation, which is what it's all about. Getting them to be interested in art and storytelling and keeping these stories alive in these ways.”

While hoping to inspire the next generation, Davis also wants to give back to the generations and mob that came before her.

“My mob mean a lot to me,” Davis said. 

“Everything I do is to make them proud. I'm always checking in with my elders, with my family, that I'm telling the stories correctly, how they're meant to be told.

“It's really important to me to make them proud and to check in with them and represent them the best way I can.”

Presented this year’s Gilbert netball printed with her artwork, Davis was speechless.

“This is so surreal and I can't believe it,” she said.

“I can't wait to show my family, they're going to spin out and I know a lot of them will buy the ball.”

First Nations Round will be celebrated during Suncorp Super Netball Rounds 11 and 12.

Artwork © Zartisha Davis

Proud Kabi Kabi woman

“Giv’ı̌r Wun’bumba” (Believe) 2026