Gold Coast Suns midfielder Lachie Gulbin kicked a goal while wearing a pair of boots designed by Bamaga students. Photos: Supplied.
AFL players from the Gold Coast Suns have run onto the field at Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium wearing boots emblazoned with designs by students from Northern Peninsula Area State College in Bamaga on the Cape.
The Suns donned gear decorated with Indigenous artwork during the club’s Sir Doug Nicholls Round fixture against North Melbourne on Saturday 23 May.
All players wore guernseys designed by Kombumerri artist Lann Levinge and several Suns, including defender Mac Andrew and midfielder Lachie Gulbin, wore the boots decorated by the students.
Suns defender Mac Andrew in boots designed by Bamaga students.
Suns Indigenous programs lead Jarrod Harbrow, a proud Yirrganydji Kuku Yalanji man, connected with former StreetSmarts Suns Academy talent and Ankamuthi Wagadagam man Glendon Woosup to get the Cape students involved.
“I built a strong relationship with Glendon when he was on the Gold Coast and it’s great to see that he is now a leader in his community,” Harbrow said.
“Giving back to school students and for him to be able to reconnect with the football club on such a cool initiative like this is exactly what these pathways and what long lasting relationships look like.
“I’m very proud of Glendon and what he’s doing.”
Woosup said as a child he could not have dreamed that a visit from the AFL’s expansion team and emerging star at the time Harbrow would have the impact it did.
Throughout 2014-15, Woosup left the Cape to pursue football and his studies, developed his AFL skills in the StreetSmarts Suns Academy and went on to represent the Gold Coast in the North East Australian Football League (NEAFL) competition.
Now, Woosup is home on the north-west coast of the Cape, helping young people connect with sport as a community liaison officer with Metro Mining.
“One of the things the AFL and the Gold Coast Suns do so well is promoting and engaging with Indigenous communities,” he said.
A Bamaga student designs an AFL boot for the Gold Coast Suns, while Glendon Woosup watches on. Photo: Supplied.
A Bamaga student designs an AFL boot for the Gold Coast Suns. Photo: Supplied.
“Sport is a big pillar in our community and from sport good things tend to happen. It provides students an incentive to engage along with avenues and opportunities.
“The Suns have had a relationship with the region since their inception in the league and Jarrod Harbrow was one of the players who visited multiple times and [helped] build a full footprint up here.”
Gold Coast Suns vice-captain Touk Miller receives boots designed by an NPA State College student.
Woosup reached out to his former Suns mentor and more than a dozen pairs of football boots were sent almost 3000 kilometres north to Bamaga, the students went to work and the shoes were returned in time for game day.
“The biggest factor was giving students the opportunity to be a part of something special, something they can remember and build on,” he said.
“I often say ‘you can’t be what you can’t see’, so when students see the players wearing their artwork on the boots it reminds them that just because they’re from a remote community it doesn’t mean that they aren’t able to grow – there are limitless opportunities.”
Woosup said working with the Suns helped him “expand my thinking and outlook on life” and the project allowed the students involved “to see something bigger to strive towards”.
“It has the potential to have a profound and positive impact in their life, and that’s the special part,” he said.
The AFL Sir Doug Nicholls Round celebrates and highlights the contributions of First Nations people and showcases moments, connections and stories that have shaped and strengthened the game.
Harbrow said it was important for AFL clubs and other elite sports bodies to share and celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture.
“We want everybody to be proud of our Indigenous cultures in Australia and there are so many ways to share culture,” he said.
“AFL players have such a strong platform to reach remote Indigenous communities and connect through culture and sports and build relationships that will last a lifetime.
“The best part is seeing the players’ reactions once they receive their boots and see their design for the first time.
“What’s even more important is the understanding from players about the cultural connection that each student shares through their individual representations of their communities, families, totems.”
North Melbourne came from behind to claim an upset victory against the Suns.