New shirt hits a six for Short

IT’LL be a proud moment for Hobart Hurricanes star D’Arcy Short when he runs onto Traeger Park this month, donning the club’s first ever indigenous playing shirt.

The Hurricanes will wear the new strip for their December 20 fixture in Alice Springs, when they host the Sydney Sixers at the venue.

The occasion will mark the first time the club will wear an indigenous strip, a special design from Palawa woman Sharnie Reed.

Short, an indigenous man born in Katherine, said wearing the strip back in the NT will be a special occasion as he shares his culture with his teammates.

“I think it’s something that a couple of us boys, myself and Dan Christian, we want an indigenous round in the BBL and this is another step towards that,” Short said.

“It’s definitely going to be exciting to be able to pull on an indigenous strip and play in Alice Springs as well.

“It’s about trying to get our culture out there as much as possible, giving people insights into how our culture lived and this is just a small part of it.”

The symbols on the playing shirt showcase Palawa connection to country.

Short said that the sight of some of the best cricketers throughout the world wearing the shirt could hopefully act as a catalyst to encourage more indigenous players pick up the sport.

“This becomes another stepping stone for [indigenous kids] to see that this is another sport that they can play,” Short said.

“It’s easier to have a footy in a community than a bat, ball and stumps but we’re working hard to get the game out in communities.”

Reed said the design was a representation of the ancient symbols of the Tasmanian Aboriginal people.

“These symbols are engraved into rock at many locations across lutrawita/ Tasmania and represent both some of the oldest art in the world and one of the oldest continuous cultures in the world,” Reed said.

“The symbols showcase palawa connection to country; a connection that is deeply embedded in the spirit of all Aboriginal people.”