MHSOBFC Unveils our first ever indigenous jumper

It is with enormous excitement that we announce the unveiling of the first MHSOBFC Indigenous Jumper in our history, designed by Alinta Kohrer. The Unicorns will debut the new jumper in Round 11 on Saturday 28th June in our Home Game vs Hawthorn. Alinta has kindly shared the story behind the jumper, which is captured below.

Waa Bann Biik, Waa’s Water Country

Birrarung, river of mist and shadows is a spiritual and sacred river to the Wurundjeri People of the Eastern Kulin Nation known to many as the Yarra River, taken from the name of the Yarra Yarra Clan of the Wurundjeri Woi-Wurrung, the language group of the Wurundjeri People. Birrarung was a vital food and water source and means of travel for thousands of years and was an important gathering place for visiting Kulin Tribes and the Wurundjeri where trade took place including ceremonies and cultural business.

There are two moieties – halves – for the Kulin Tribes. They are our spiritual creator, Bunjil who comes in the form of the wedgetail eagle, and Waa the Crow, Keeper of the Wind and Waterways. He is protector. He created a powerful cyclone for Bunjil to carry him into the heavens when Bunjil was too tired to fly to the Dreaming after he created Country.

Waa the Crow can be seen flying over the portion of Birrarung that Melbourne High School Old Boys Football Club sits on from the aerial view, and stares down over Country to his waterways, protecting and keeping watch for those to care for our environment. Waa represents strength in knowledge and culture and reflects Melbourne High School Old Boys Football Club’s vision and commitment to be leaders in the community supporting First Nations Peoples towards reconciliation.

From the bird’s eye view, a person is represented by the ‘U’ or ‘n’ symbol. This is the shape a person makes whilst sitting on the ground with their knees crossed. The players of Melbourne High School Old Boys Football Club are represented by the ‘U’ symbols around each gathering circle signifying the ongoing relationship the players have to the Club and the lands of the Wurundjeri Peoples. Green lined motifs beside each ‘U’ symbolise the shield and spear signifying strength in allyship and friendship of non-First Peoples with the Aboriginal community. Diamond patterns symbolise unity and coming together and are ceremony markings to each player playing the traditional football game originally known as ‘marngrook’ - a game played with a ball made of possum skin and filled with charcoal and sewn with kangaroo sinew, played amongst Clans for hours on end.