The GIANTS are proud to unveil the club’s indigenous dress for this weekend’s Suncorp Super Netball Indigenous Round.
For the third year in a row, the artwork for the GIANTS indigenous dress was designed by young Newcastle netballer, Krystal Dallinger.
As a proud indigenous woman from the Gamilaroi Nation, her love of art is equally important as her passion for netball.
This year’s dress links all three indigenous dresses together using the NAIDOC week theme “Always Was, Always Will Be.”
Dallinger also added a few personal touches by incorporating her first experiences within her culture to the artwork.
The Rainbow Serpent, which is a primary element of the dress, was the first book her mother read to her as a child to share her knowledge of the Dreamtime.
“The dot patterns on the dress represent all three opportunities I have had to work with the GIANTS family to design their Indigenous Round dresses and to be a huge part of their club,” said Dallinger.
“The two boomerangs represent my family and the GIANTS family, linking one another and my culture; as throughout these opportunities I have been able to share my stories and my history to many other people.
“The background colours represent the Aboriginal flag, which I’m very proud of.
“As a whole, the dress represents me in a way that I will always be proud of my culture, my stories, my flag and my people.
“Being able to share my stories with many others is something I will continue to do and be proud of doing.”
Sam Poolman, who met Dallinger back in 2017, acknowledged her contribution to not only the dress but the club.
“We think it’s absolutely incredible,” said Poolman.
“Both Krystal and Valour have done an amazing job and we’re certainly honoured to wear it.
“We’re so proud to represent Krystal’s artwork and what it means to her family and culture.
“We would have loved to have her here in Queensland to launch the dress, she’s such an integral part of this round and our club and we hope we do her and her family proud on Saturday.”
Managing Director of Valour Sport, Matthew Knight said “Valour Sport is proudly Australian owned and operated, so when the opportunity arose to bring this amazing artistic creation to life in the form of the GIANTS dress for SSN Indigenous round, we were both humbled and honoured.”
“The artwork has beautifully complimented the colour pallet of the GIANTS club. We hope that Valour Sport has captured the inspiration behind the artist and that it further inspires the GIANTS to victory as they push for a top four finish this weekend.”
The GIANTS will take on the West Coast Fever this Saturday September 19, at the Pop Up Arena in Cairns.
