Western Clydesdales unveil inaugural Indigenous Round jersey

The Western Clydesdales will run out in their first ever Indigenous jerseys this weekend when they travel to Logan. Find out the significance of the design here.

Western Clydesdales players Brock Diment (left) and Cory McGrady wear the club’s Indigenous jersey ahead of the Hostplus Cup Indigenous Round. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Lining up against Souths Logan Magpies will be a humbling and emotional experience for Brock Diment.

The proud Indigenous man and his Western Clydesdales teammates will run out in the Hostplus Cup side’s inaugural Indigenous jersey this Sunday.

Being able to represent and honour his heritage and culture is an important milestone for the Valleys Roosters talent.

“I think that being able to represent your heritage and where you come from is very important,” Diment said.

“So many young Indigenous boys and girls watch rugby league and it means a lot to them when they see their favourite players or players they look up to wearing culturally significant designs and getting their story shared on a large scale.

Western Clydesdales players Brock Diment (left) and Cory McGrady.

“I also think that this design is even more special as it was originally painted by someone in the community that’s now passed away, so it means more as we are wearing his legacy and representing him even though he’s no longer with us.”

The Old Man Emu jersey art has been supplied by Goolburri Aboriginal Health Advancement in honour of their late founding chairman Dale Manns who was the artist.

Goolburri, meaning emu, were creator spirits in the sky, and many Indigenous people were aware of this dreaming story and understood it to mean when the emu constellation appeared in the sky it, would show different seasons.

Western Clydesdales CEO Shane Sullivan said it is important the club celebrates and shares the story of South West Queensland’s Indigenous communities.

“It’s important that we show where we are from, and this jersey will do that,” Sullivan said.

“It’s also a great initiative as Goolburri, in conjunction with Deadly Choices have said whenever an Indigenous man from the community visits Goolburri for a mental health check-up, they have the option of taking home a retro Western Clydesdales print T-shirt, or a T-shirt with the Indigenous art and design on it.”

The Clydesdales will be auctioning off the match-worn jerseys, with the funds going to the Western Clydesdales Community Foundation.

The foundation supports three key projects: Creating Clydesdales (South-West Qld pathways junior development), Our Community (player participation, community/social inclusion/Indigenous support programs, and Our People (female rugby league development player/coach development and pathways).