Boomers recognise Indigenous heritage and culture

Today the Deakin Melbourne Boomers will be wearing warm up tops created by Clothing the Gap and illustrator, Carla Scotto, to acknowledge and pay respect to our Indigenous cultures and people.

Screen printed on Wurundjeri Country in Melbourne and worn on the Gimuy-walubarra Yidinji and Yirrganydji Country, up here in Cairns, the Boomers playing group and Club felt wearing the 2020 NAIDOC themed ‘Always Was, Always Will Be’ t-shirts, presented an opportunity to use our platform to amplify a message.

When speaking about the initiative she helped spearhead, it is clear it is a message close to Co-captain Cayla George’s heart.

“It means a whole lot to me to be able to represent and use this platform to show that this is what we’re about at the Boomers.

“We want to pay respect to and recognise the traditional owners of the land of the Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people, who were here first.

“Yes, we recognise that of course there was white history as well, but that came after.”

George is most looking forward to being able show what we represent as the Boomers – playing group and club – but also in a hope to spark conversations.

“Sometimes conversations aren’t always comfortable when it comes to this but they need to be had, and that’s essentially what it’s about – spark conversations and show what we’re about.”

For George, being able to do this in Cairns runs much deeper than it just being in front of her home crowd.

“What better place than Cairns, where two thirds of the Indigenous population are in the North of Australia.

“It’s really cool to be able to do it here and in the Boomers purple as well – which is really just a bonus!

“My husband is a Torres Strait Islander, so my family are Torres Strait Islanders and it’s an added extra special thing for me to be able to represent my family.”

Catch the game and a special video piece by the Boomers today at 5pm AEST // 6pm AEDT on Kayo.