With the support of our Premier and Community Partner the KARI Foundation, the Sydney Roosters are excited to reveal our 2019 Indigenous Jersey that will be worn in the Club’s Round 11 game against the Newcastle Knights on May 24th for the annual NRL Indigenous Round.
Our truly unique Indigenous Jersey was designed by Danielle Mate Sullivan, who worked with our Indigenous players to design and develop a design that represented them as proud Indigenous people but also represented our Members and our overall Club within the community.
Danielle has progressively developed herself as a contemporary Aboriginal artist and now presents her talents and services under her business brand of DJMate (www.djmate.com.au).
Danielle explained in depth the special meaning behind the artwork used to create the 2019 Indigenous Jersey.
“The artwork represents the totems of the 2019 Sydney Roosters Indigenous players,” she said.
“The large circle at the centre of the piece represents the Roosters Club.
“The totems (shark, crocodile, goanna and whale) all face inwards to the Club where they meet.
“Surrounding this is the red, white and blue dot work which represents the supporters of the Club.
“The supporter’s communities, large and small, are the circles surrounding the Club.
“The white small dots show the connection from community to Club and the Club back to community.
“The large hand prints are the actual players prints and the smaller prints are of their children/family.
“This shows the importance of not only family, but the role the players have in inspiring our next generation and leaving a positive imprint of culture for everyone,” added Danielle.
Behind the Roosters Indigenous Jersey
Through our commitment to a Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP), our partnership with the KARI Foundation and artist Danielle Mate Sullivan, students from years 4, 5 and 6 at Plunkett Street Public School were invited to undertake a Cultural Arts Program which enabled them to share the same experience that our Indigenous players undertook in order to create the Sydney Roosters 2019 Indigenous Jersey.
Plunkett Street Public School is a small School located in Woolloomooloo that has a high population of Indigenous students.
Students who participated in this program had the opportunity to hear the significance behind our 2019 artwork design and had the opportunity to recreate their own similar artwork on an individual canvas.
Our 2019 Indigenous Jerseys are now on sale.
There will be an online auction of the players match worn jerseys available to Roosters fans at the conclusion of the match.
