The Travelodge Aussie Spirit can now boast an Indigenous playing top as part of their official playing uniform.

The development comes after Softball Australia worked with Indigenous artist Kylie Hill to refashion the warm-up top created for NAIDOC week in 2020 into a game-ready uniform. Kylie is a proud Aboriginal woman from the Kalkadoon and Waanyi people from far North Queensland Mount Isa.

The idea for the original Indigenous warm-up top came together after former Travelodge Aussie Spirit captain and proud Kamilaroi woman Stacey Porter watched a Super Netball Indigenous Round together with her West Australian teammate Leah Parry. Porter then reached out to Ipswich Indigenous artist Kylie Hill to create the unique design, with her son Jak also contributing.

The Spirit players subsequently wore the training tops in an exhibition game against Japan in the lead-up to the 2020 Olympics, and Softball Australia again reached out to Kylie about the design and its place in Australian softball after it became part of the official playing uniform during the Canada Cup.

Kylie’s love for softball stretches back more than 40 years to when she was a 5-year-old playing the game in Mount Isa, and the Ipswich-based artist said she was honoured to have the design reach an international stage, and that it was a “mind-blowing” experience to see the top used in an exhibition game against Japan before the Olympics.

“It’s a whole new level of pride, and watching people at softball and in the community wearing the supporter tops was so deadly”, she said.

Kylie also involved her son Jak in the design process that helped make history for First Nations people, and said, “Jak was incredibly excited and proud to work with me on the designs, and he helped with the sketch, painting, and which colours to use, to make it as effective as possible to get the story across.”

Jak Hill added that he was proud that “other countries will get to see and feel our proud Australian heritage come shining through.”

Coming together for the love of sport and unity is a key element of the design, and Kylie hopes all future and current players wearing the uniform know its meaning, with the players’ hard work, dedication, and journey to representing Australia all reflected in the design.

The story of the design is not lost on Aussie Spirit player Tarni Stepto, a proud Kamilaroi and Ualarai woman from Brewarrina, just outside of Bourke in regional NSW.

Having witnessed first-hand how Indigenous designs can raise awareness and educate people about Indigenous culture, Tarni believes the Spirit jersey has the power to unify the softball community, as it represents not only the Aussie Spirit but also the Indigenous people of Australia.

“I believe that when we wear it in our games it will bring more attention to us, and I think that will educate other people on our culture as Australia, and not just the culture of just white Australia. You have both cultures behind us,” she said.

Tarni also revealed the personal effect the design has on her, saying, “I always get goosebumps when I see our sports acknowledging our culture, our past, and our history. So, for a sport that I love and for my country to really care about the Indigenous people of Australia, it brings tears to my eyes, because I know in the past it sort of hasn’t been recognised.

“To wear not only Australia across my chest but also my culture that has been thriving for thousands of years is just an indescribable feeling. Like, I almost feel sometimes like I have extra powers to play. I’m not sure how but I just feel that like my past family and my present family are there with me. Even at the Olympics with not having my family present, I still felt that I had my community and my people behind me, because I was wearing that specific jersey,” Stepto said.

At only 22 years of age, Tarni is aware she has an opportunity to become an established member of the team for several years, and can use this platform to become a leader in not only the softball community, but also the wider population. As an example, Tarni believes she can share the story of the Indigenous jersey with her followers on social media about “what this means to me and how we can incorporate our Indigenous culture into Australian softball.”

With Stacey Porter now stepping away from playing for Australia, Tarni is also acutely aware that she can be an Indigenous role model for the future Indigenous players coming through, as well as the greater community of “Indigenous kids wanting to not only play softball, but aspire to be at the Olympics or be athletic in any way.”

When asked if she had any advice for emerging Indigenous players who might be interested in pursuing softball, she said, “Just chase your dreams. Love what you do. You can do anything you want with your life, and I believe that if you choose a pathway – whether that’s softball or any other sport or academics – just go with it with your whole heart. And just know that you’re one of many indigenous kids or people that don’t really get an opportunity to do as much as we wish we could.”

“There’s not a lot of resources out there for rural communities to be successful, so for those who get the opportunity, take it with both hands and be proud and share your story with other people, because that’s how I believe this ripple effect works: If we share our stories and share our information with one another, that’s how we get more kids on-board with playing any sport, not just softball.”

The Travelodge Aussie Spirit will wear the Indigenous playing top as part of their uniform rotation at both the Canada Cup and the World Games next month.

Tarni is unavailable for the tour due to an injury sustained during the US College season, where she is a pitcher for Oregon State University.

About the Design:

Kylie and Jak have titled their design “Our Aussie Spirt Journey,” and have shared the story behind the artwork:

“We came from all over this beautiful country we call home, Australia. We have shared our journeys with families and friends and now we want to share it with you. All the hard work, dedication, sweat and tears have made us what we are today. We will be playing hard for our country and won't let anything bring us down. We are the Travelodge Aussie Spirit Softball Team.”

About the Artists

Kylie is a proud Aboriginal woman from the Kalkadoon and Waanyi people from far North Queensland Mount Isa. Kylie originated from Mount Isa but has now called Ipswich home for the past 30 years. She is well known to her community and all over Queensland.

Kylie is recognised in the softball community across Australia and has painted many softballs and equipment for the sport, often donating her art pieces to help organisations & people to fundraise.

Her artworks have gone to Las Vegas, Japan, Germany and Ireland. Kylie has worked on murals and canvas pieces for day care centres, schools, medical centres, Indigenous and non-Indigenous organisations across the country, and various government and sporting associations.

She enjoys helping people achieve their goals through her art, and one of her biggest desires and inspirations is to connect with people through her art. Helping to close the gap with reconciliation and bringing people together through her art to showcase her culture is a priority for Kylie.

Jak is a proud Aboriginal man who belongs to the Kalkadoon and Waanyi people from Far North Queensland Mt Isa & Yugembah, Yuggera, Muninjali, Bundjalung and Githabul people from the Brisbane regions. Jak has worked at the Spirit of the Red Sands Show in Beenleigh, and dances with his family in the Nunukul Yuggera Dance troupe in Brisbane.

He works alongside his mother in KJH Artworks and loves to paint murals and share his culture through art.

For more information on KJH Artworks, please contact Kylie directly at kjhartworks@gmail.com or on 0402 506 146, or visit the KJH Artworks Facebook page or Instagram account.