St Kilda Football Club is proud to reveal this year’s Indigenous Guernsey, designed by Saints legend and proud Noongar man Nicky Winmar, as one of several initiatives to coincide with Sir Doug Nicholls Indigenous Round.
The round will launch alongside the Winmar-led documentary, The Ripple Effect, and affiliated program Point + Be Proud, which aims to educate the community about the ongoing impacts of racism on Indigenous mental health and wellbeing. Point + Be Proud will be delivered through schools and sporting organisations across Melbourne's south.
Inspired by Winmar’s famous stand against racism in 1993 at Victoria Park, The Ripple Effect – produced by St Kilda Football Club in partnership with Dickson Films and VicHealth and led by St Kilda Indigenous Liaison Officer Nathan Lovett-Murray – delves into racism in Australia through the eyes of the nation’s most prominent and inspiring athletes of colour.
The documentary will feature Winmar, Lovett-Murray, Ben Long, Nova Peris, Josh Addo-Carr, Akec Makur Chuot, Bachar Houli, Otis Hope Carey and more.
“It’s a story that needs to be told,” Winmar said.
“I’m incredibly proud to continue the conversation of reconciliation through The Ripple Effect documentary, the Point + Be Proud program and the design of this year’s Indigenous Guernsey for Sir Doug Nicholls Round.
“I hope this documentary has the power to create meaningful change between individuals and our country as a whole.
“While we’re all taking steps in the right direction, we still have such a long way to go until true reconciliation is reached.”
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders aged between 15 and 24 are almost four times more likely to commit suicide compared to non-Indigenous people the same age 1.
Studies also showed that 25 per cent of Indigenous youth were concerned about their personal safety compared to the 15 per cent of non-Indigenous youth.
25 per cent of Indigenous youth also felt anxious about experiencing bullying/emotional abuse, while 20 per cent feared racial discrimination 2.
The Ripple Effect and Point + Be Proud will add to St Kilda’s Reconciliation Action Plan, which was launched in 2019 alongside Winmar.
“It’s humbling for St Kilda Football Club to play an active role and take tangible steps on the road to healing,” St Kilda CEO Matt Finnis said.
“Wearing Nicky’s Indigenous Guernsey over the two weeks of Sir Doug Nicholls Round is just one way in acknowledging and celebrating Indigenous culture, but there’s far more that needs to happen.
“I’d like to commend the extraordinary work of Nathan Lovett-Murray in particular, who helped bring this all to life alongside Nicky and filmmaker Peter Dickson.
“It’s a story that is incredibly hard to comprehend and digest, but it’s one that must be listened to.
“The power of Nicky’s stand and its impact is something that a lot of us can barely put into words, and it’s a legacy that hasn’t diminished some 28 years later.
“With ‘Legacy’ the theme of this year’s Sir Doug Nicholls Indigenous Round, there can’t be a better symbol to rally behind as we continue our journey towards reconciliation.”
The Ripple Effect documentary has been supported in partnership with VicHealth.
"It is important for us to call out acts of racism as uncomfortable as that may be," VicHealth CEO Sandro Demaio said.
"We need to recognise the immense impact this has on the health and wellbeing of our community, especially those being targeted.
"It is the responsibility of us all to recognise the role we all play in ending discrimination, and to stand up and speak out when we hear about it, or it happens in front of us."
1. www1.health.gov.au. 2020. Department Of Health | Aboriginal And Torres Strait Islander Suicide: Origins, Trends And Incidence.
2. Carlisle, E., Fildes, J., Liyanarachchi, D., Perrens, B. and Plummer, J., 2017. National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Youth Report, Youth Survey 2017, Mission Australia.
About Nicky Winmar’s guernsey
This year’s Indigenous Guernsey is inspired by Nicky’s family, his history and his love of his beloved Saints.
Two Willy Wagtails, Nicky’s family totem, feature on the front of the jumper to represent both of his parents, alongside a silhouette of his iconic “I’m Black and I’m Proud” pose from that defining day at Victoria Park in 1993.
The stencils seen on the back of the guernsey are inspired by traditionally Indigenous splatter techniques and feature Nicky’s very own hands.
They represent teamwork and demonstrate his eternal connection to the club and its current group of players – he will always have their back.
Winmar’s guernsey will be worn by the Saints over Rounds 11 and 12 against North Melbourne and Sydney respectively for Sir Doug Nicholls Round.
