The GIANTS are proud to unveil their 2022 First Nations dress that will be worn during rounds 12 and 13 of the league’s dedicated First Nations celebrations.
The 2022 dress has been designed once again by Gamilaroi woman, Krystal Dallinger.
Dallinger, who was first welcomed into the club through a relationship with former GIANT Sam Poolman, has designed every First Nations dress for the GIANTS since the introduction of the dedicated round back in 2018.
Delivering yet another powerful and inspiring design, the 2022 artwork is one that can resonate with everyone as it is based off the impact that COVID-19 has had on communities.
“It’s a story that is relatable to everyone as I’m sure many people have had great struggle with the disconnection from family and friends and even normality of life during the pandemic,” said Dallinger.
The importance of family and friends is a value that resonates with both Dallinger and the GIANTS and is represented via the detailed circle in the centre of the artwork.
“The circle in the centre represents family and the importance of togetherness,” she explained.
“I placed it in the centre of the dress also to pay my respects to the Elers family, an important family in my life, after a devastating tragedy that occurred mid 2021.
“The patterns on either side of the circle symbolise the disconnection of communities and families during this time, as it disconnects the dress.
“The overwhelming feeling of the unknown especially in our regional and remote communities and the struggle families are going through.”
The inclusion of the gum tree branches across the dress represent the sentiment of feeling welcomed – a feeling Dallinger speaks of when describing her journey and the relationships she’s made.
It’s placement on the dress is a symbol of protection and to cleanse bad spirits for the person wearing it.
The black bird - a totem of Walgett, Dallinger’s native land - symbolises elders watching over us.
“It’s placed on the left side as it’s connected to our hearts,” she said.
“And the hands on the dress are reaching out for my family after so much turmoil recently.”
The four circles connected by footprints leading towards the middle represent Dallinger’s four families – family in Walgett, Dubbo, Newcastle and her GIANTS family.
“The meeting of these families in the middle represents sharing our stories and making for a better future.
“The disconnection felt during these tough times make for an even stronger reconnection.”
The GIANTS will proudly wear their First Nations dress this Sunday when they host the Adelaide Thunderbirds at Ken Rosewall and next weekend in Brisbane when they take on the Queensland Firebirds at Nissan Arena.
