Yanchep artist Kurt Hindmarsh’s innovative use of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup as the theme for his NAIDOC Ball Design Competition entry has been rewarded after he was announced as this year’s winner.
The tournament kicks off in Australia and New Zealand in 16 days’ time and Kurt made the event central to his artwork, which will now be printed on 500 Deploy match balls to be distributed around the state.
The annual NAIDOC Ball Design competition is open to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island people in Western Australia.
It is run by Football West and our partner the Insurance Commission of Western Australia to coincide with NAIDOC Week and to promote road safety. The Insurance Commission’s Belt Up message will also be printed on the T-Spec footballs.
“We have the large circle representing Australia and then each patch represents the groups in the World Cup, so people will be able to take a look at the ball and work out which groups are which, based on the colours of the design,” Kurt said.
“I’m super impressed with the final design, it’s come up really well … it’s super important that Aboriginal artists get the opportunity to share their culture and traditions with the rest of the world and with the Women’s World Cup, that will be an awesome opportunity.”
Football West CEO Jamie Harnwell said: “I love the design. It’s fantastic to have it in Women’s World Cup year when we’re welcoming countries from across the world… it’s a great piece of art and a very worthy winner.”
Football West Manager - Female Football and Advocacy Sarah Du Plessis said: “Kurt’s done an amazing job. The design is absolutely stunning and the theme of the Women’s World Cup couldn’t be more relevant.”
Insurance Commission CEO Rod Whithear said: “I would like to congratulate Kurt for the design of this ball and I understand he used the colours of the national flags of the countries represented at the World Cup.
“We think it’s important to communicate the Belt Up message on these balls to encourage people to ensure they wear a seatbelt every time they get in the car. We had 77 people killed or seriously injured last year that weren’t wearing a seatbelt.”
Mr Whithear said the Insurance Commission had provided $1million and 11,000 footballs to support community football since its partnership with Football West began six years ago.
Mr Harnwell added: “ICWA have been a fantastic partner for us over six years and it’s such a relevant message, not just here in Perth but across Western Australia. We’re very proud to share the Belt Up message.”
The 2023 NAIDOC Week runs between 2-9 July and this year’s theme is For Our Elders. For more on NAIDOC Week, click here.
Details of the 2024 NAIDOC Ball Design competition will be released this week.
