Sisters’ art honours Indigenous culture, inspires youth

OCEAN GROVE sisters Kasey and Jess Tattersall took on an artistic project different to anything they had done before for this weekend’s AFL Barwon Indigenous Round.

They were tasked with painting a mural in Room 909 of Holiday Inn and Suites Geelong – an AFL Barwon partner – to represent Wadawurrung Country.

The room will be open for bookings so guests can enjoy the work into the future.

Thrilled to be trusted with “full creative freedom”, the Sista Studios duo got to work on their biggest mural yet, titled Echoes of Country.

Their design – which pays tribute to all the different waterways, bays, rivers and the You Yangs – was met with praise as guests admired the work at the Indigenous Round launch on Wednesday this week.

The mural also honours elders who have taken care of the land previously as well as those who care for it today.

The Tattersalls explained their mum was Indigenous and they are from the Wollithiga mob in Yorta Yorta country.

Their pop practiced art and so did their mum, which helped inspire them.

The sisters used to produce and sell art separately but mostly work together now, and Jess said she thoroughly enjoyed working with her older sister.

“I mean, it’s always nice to work with someone that you’re familiar with, it’s uncomfortable sometimes when you’re not with people you know.

“So being able to work with her, it’s a blessing. I don’t think people really understand that until you work with your sibling and then get to realise how special it actually is.”

Kasey said their motivation was creating the representation that they needed when they were coming through school.

“We’re giving back to the community to make sure that they have what we didn’t have growing up,” she said.

“So that younger Indigenous people for the future can see their culture out and about and know that it is recognised because we obviously didn’t have that.”

“It’s important, I think growing up, you need the representation,” Jess added.

“Otherwise, it gets to feeling like you’re different and you’re not the same as other people and the people that are around you.”

Like 2024, the sisters have painted two pairs of football boots for Indigenous Round this year.

Meanwhile, Indigenous art will also feature on footballs, netballs and umpire uniforms this weekend.

New regional general manager Lisa Patterson said AFL Barwon was proud to have been the first community football and netball league to introduce a dedicated Indigenous round.

“That initiative has grown stronger each year, thanks to the passion and leadership within our clubs and the community.

“We are thrilled that 12 football/netball clubs will take to the field this week wearing custom designed Indigenous jumpers.”