When the North Queensland Toyota Cowboys ran out at GIO Stadium today in Canberra, they proudly told a tale of courage, integrity, commitment and unity in their unique Indigenous jerseys.
After their 22-16 victory against the Raiders in the NRL Indigenous Round match, the Cowboys are now proud to invite you to bid in their charity jersey auction!
On auction:
- 17 player-signed, winning Cowboys Indigenous jerseys
- Special Ambassador jersey (#23), signed by Johnathan Thurston, Matthew Bowen & Ray Thompson
All proceeds go to the Cowboys Community Foundation and NRL Cowboys House.
To bid: cowboys.com.au/auction
Gift exchange
The NRL Indigenous Round match was preceded by a symbolic gift exchange on-field, where the Cowboys presented a hand-crafted didgeridoo made locally in Mackay by Peter Santo from JW Didgeridoos, crafted from grey box hardwood timber from the Charters Towers region and painted by Kennie Dodd of the Birri Nation.
Jersey design
I wanted to let people know that although Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islander people have very different cultures we are all the same: Indigenous Australians.
Beau Pennefather Motlop
The Cowboys' 2019 Indigenous jersey design by Cairns artist Beau Pennefather Motlop, entitled 'same but different', shows the Torres Strait headdress and the Aboriginal shield in the design, elements that both represent courage.
The design represents:
Courage: The Torres Strait head dress and the Aboriginal shield represent courage. Our ancestor warriors would need immeasurable amounts of courage to fight battles with neighbouring tribes and during colonisation.
Integrity: The two hands, one black, one white, represent integrity and honesty. They are also a representation of unity and equality. When you swear an oath on a bible and state to tell the truth, you put one hand up.
Committed: The Torres Strait drum and Aboriginal didgeridoo represent our commitment to keeping our culture alive through traditional dance and music, as well as sharing our culture.
Unity: The circle dot patterns represent meeting places. The U-Shapes surrounding them represent people meeting in unity.
The jersey also features the Cowboys Community Foundation branding in the sternum position, thanks to a generous donation by club major partner Diageo Australia.
Cowboys Community Foundation
The Cowboys Community Foundation is a community-owned charity improving employment, health and social outcomes for young North Queenslanders through education-based programs.
CCF's flagship program, NRL Cowboys House, provides supported accommodation for young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students from some of North Queensland’s most remote and educationally disadvantaged communities, enabling them to access quality secondary education opportunities in Townsville.
Like all of the Foundation’s programs, NRL Cowboys House creates hope, motivation and opportunity and addresses some of the significant challenges faced by our young people on their journey through education to employment and adult life.
For more information, visit cowboysfoundation.org.au.
