Barrawarn to Feature on Collingwood FC Indigenous Round Jumper

AFL SportsReady is thrilled over Collingwood Football Club’s decision to wear a Guernsey featuring the Barrawarn program logo, a program managed by the Collingwood Football Club Foundation in partnership with AFL SportsReady.

The Indigenous Round Guernsey was unveiled during last week’s episode of The Marngrook Footy Show on NITV. Designed by artist, Dixon Patton, the guernsey highlights the Magpies’ commitment to Australia’s first people. 

Patton said: “It’s definitely exciting, rewarding and surreal to see my design adorn Collingwood’s guernsey for the AFL’s upcoming Indigenous Round.

“The Barrawarn Program is all about helping young Indigenous people break through barriers and building communities, a theme I tried to symbolise through the pair of hands reaching out, which is central to the logo.”

Barrawarn guernseys worn during the round 11 match against St Kilda will be auctioned, with proceeds going to the Rumbalara Football and Netball Club, and Fitzroy Stars Football, organisations supporting Indigenous communities in Shepparton and Northern Melbourne respectively.

Established in 2012, the Barrawarn Program is a joint initiative between AFL SportsReady and the CFC Foundation, supporting young Indigenous people through education and employment opportunities, empowering youth by providing career pathways.

Barrawarn is a woi wurrung, the language of the Wurundjeri people, word for Magpie.

Barrawarn Program participants develop vocational skills and attain nationally recognised qualifications, with trainees working within AFL Victoria’s regional development areas, making a significant impact on the elite development pathway for young Indigenous people.

School based participants are placed with a range of different organisations within the cities of Yarra and Darebin in areas such as sports and business administration, and hospitality.

Recently expanded after garnering the support of the Victorian Government, the Barrawarn Program has already placed 35 Indigenous jobseekers into full-time employment at partner organisations, including Linfox, Westpac and the Peter McCallum Cancer Centre, a figure poised to grow in the year ahead.

DATE: Monday, 26 May 2014 
IMAGE 1: Peter Yagmoor and Tony Armstrong proudly model Collingwood’s Indigenous Round guernsey, bearing the Barrawarn logo 
IMAGE 2: A close up image of Collingwood’s Indigenous Round guernsey
ARTICLE: By Simon Chiarelli of the Collingwood Football Club

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