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Few days late on posting this one. But i'm really liking this jersey, would like to see it worn a bit more than a one off or annually TBH. Anything that recognises our first nations people is great to see IMO, and should be celebrated more and more. Just wish the ARU can get their shit together so i know whether i am going to buy one or not!
Kurtley Beale breaks out into corroboree dance while unveiling new Wallabies indigenous jersey
JAMIE PANDARAM, The Daily Telegraph
July 17, 2017 7:22pm
KURTLEY Beale finally has the indigenous Wallabies jersey he has campaigned the ARU for years about.
Now he wants it worn annually.
Australia’s only current indigenous rugby international, Beale was inspired to push for recognition by union of Aboriginal culture after seeing the reaction to the NRL’s indigenous-All Stars match.
His request was heeded, and the Wallabies will become the first Australian team to wear an indigenous-inspired jersey in an international fixture when Australia host the All Blacks in the third Bledisloe Cup Test on October 21 in Brisbane.
“I saw that movement, to have the first indigenous-All Stars game, what a great celebration, that was awesome to see everyone from the communities coming to support their team,” Beale said.
“That really inspired me to push forward for this jersey, it’s great now we can do it.
“I’m hoping now we can stick to it and make it a yearly thing, I’ll be supporting that all the way.”
Beale kickstarted the jersey idea last June when he addressed the entire Wallabies’ playing group and staff about the meaning of the welcome to country ceremony, and his personal pride at representing his culture.
It was clear to all at the National Centre for Indigenous Excellence in Redfern on Monday what this means to Beale, as he performed an impromptu corroboree dance with members of the Tribal Warrior group before choking back tears speaking about the jersey’s value to him and others.
Afterwards, he told The Daily Telegraph how the snowball leading to this jersey’s creation began.
Beale was asked by Australian coach Michael Cheika to explain the meaning about the welcome to country ceremony, which is now done when both Test teams are on the field, whereas previously it was performed while the sides were in the sheds and most spectators were queuing for food and drink.
Beale walked into the rooms and presented the Wallabies squad with his own indigenous-designed national jersey.
“I’ve always had an idea to play in an indigenous Wallaby jersey, this was the first time we spoke about that,” Beale said.
“It was pretty emotional. Whenever we talk about it, it’s a touching subject for me, a real powerful thing, it stems from the gut, comes up and takes over.
“For me to be able to speak about it to my teammates was special, it was well received.
“It’s about paying respect to our culture, recognise a culture that’s been around for many, many years.
“For indigenous people to have that type of recognition, it means we feel a part of this new world.
“We feel more accepted and that people understand us and our culture.
“At the end of the day, ultimately, it’s a great way of having indigenous and non-indigenous people coming together and moving forward.
“We try to express that a lot, because in our history there were a lot of tough times; the Stolen Generation, the assimilation policy, going back many years.
“Sport is a great vehicle for us to do that and in our game I’m very passionate about that type of stuff, for us to be able to do that and for the boys to accept that was very special.
“Now that we’ve got the jersey and Cheik and the boys are behind it, it’s going to be an amazing experience.
“It doesn’t matter if there’s no indigenous players at that level of the game in the jersey, because I think it’s just important as a union that we recognise and pay that respect to the players of the past that have played the game, and the current.
“It just paints a really good picture for the people outside looking in now that the ARU are getting this jersey done.”
And that jersey Beale presented the team with last June — painted with a Wallaby and three waterholes representing the past, the present and the future indigenous players and the Aboriginal culture — has been hung in the team’s changerooms in every match since.
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/spo...15d182d503d077