The CoE teams will don the jerseys for the first time this Sunday against Hornsby in celebration of National Reconciliation Week, debuting the First Nations jersey that features designs by Meuram (Darnley / Erub Island) artist, Daniel O’Shane.
NBL1 East’s official First Nations Round occurs In July which will be missed by the CoE as a solid portion of the athletes will be abroad, representing Australia at the FIBA U17 World Cups.
As a tribute to being absent for First Nations Round the CoE will represent in the fresh design for all home games for the remainder of the NBL1 East season.
The jersey features artwork that created by First Nations artist O’Shane, who is a proud Miriam Mer, Kulkagal and Kuku Yalanji man currently residing on Yidinji Country (Queensland).
The design is already used across a variety of designs for the Australian national teams and was integrated on the Boomers & Opals Script jerseys released last year.
Danny O’Shane presented the meaning of the design ahead of the Script jersey release last year.
“This print exhibits the values and pillars that we share and strive to uphold as a people, nation and team,” said O’Shane.
“These values are represented by the five reefs that cross through the centre and pertains to our connection to land and strong sense of culture, the importance of family and community, our resilience to push through and get back up, humility and attitude of team over self, the journey and acceptance of hard work with no end and acknowledgment of together we are stronger,” said O’Shane.
“The leaves that create a canopy over these reefs brings all these values together and keeps us accountable to deliver and uphold these standards. The ‘Sik’ (flowering and life of the ocean) are represented by the jagged lines that vibrate from the sides of the reefs which convey the energy emitted from the collective effort when all are in a working motion,”
“Just like a real reef, if there is no life or energy or the conditions are not optimal the reef becomes sterile,” added O’Shane.
The jersey will be a striking alternate for the ‘Tute on Sunday and an acknowledgment of the contribution of First Nations culture and communities to our game and country.
O’Shane’s design will take the spotlight in the Capital, encompassing the entire CoE jersey, which will be proudly worn by the CoE over the course of 2026.
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