In a proud moment for the Melbourne Cricket Club (MCC), on December 17 and December 18, both the MCC Premier Men’s and Women’s First XI teams faced Prahran wearing a specially designed First Nations shirt.
Designed by local Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung artist Ky-ya Nicholson Ward, along with MCC cricketer, Women's First XI all-rounder and proud Jawoyn woman Ella Hayward, the shirt combines different eye-catching elements that illustrate a story of diversity, unity, strength and skill.
C: The MCC First Nations shirt design worn by MCC Premier Men’s and Women’s First XI teams
This design forms part of the MCC and MCG’s reconciliation journey following the launch of its inaugural Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP), with the MCC and MCG proud to be connected to Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, cultures and art.
The eye-catching centre circle according to Ky-ya is a “meeting place which symbolises the MCG – the lands of the MCG are sacred traditional ceremonial lands of my people, the Wurundjeri people.
“The meeting place represents coming together as a team, family and community to strive for the same goal, to be happy, healthy and win!”
As part of the debut of the design, both MCC teams and opposition Prahran came together on both days for a Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony, with Bunurong Elder Mick Edwards encouraging players at the Albert Ground to ‘not let the fire within burn out’ - a powerful message that resonated with all players, coaches and spectators.
Ahead of her team’s match at Beaumaris Secondary College, Ella spoke of the significance of seeing teammates make their way onto the oval wearing the shirt that she had helped design, and acknowledged the incredible visual of both sides uniting for the same purpose.