This March, we began a journey long in the making. The Koori Club shirts, unchanged since 2017, had served their purpose well, but it was time for renewal – a reflection of the evolving identity of our students and the community they belong to.
With the appointment of Megan Sampson as Head of Indigenous Education, new programs and initiatives began to take shape. Among them, the revitalisation of the Koori Club became a natural first step: small, steady meetings, and the decision to create shirts that would represent both the students and the wider IGS community.
The design needed to be meaningful, and there was one person we knew could capture the spirit of this project. Bianca Caldwell, affectionately known as Aunty B, had already guided many of our students through Year 3 Art workshops. She was commissioned to create a design that reflected the IGS community, a design she could see herself in and that the students would recognise as their own.
The design draws on the visual language of Wiradjuri and Indigenous art traditions, where symbolism and storytelling are central. Concentric circles at the heart of the design represent the multiple communities coming together, a visual echo of connection and shared purpose. Surrounding these circles are U-shaped figures, evoking the presence of people within the community – each figure a symbol of the students, staff and families who form the fabric of IGS.
On the back, the names of each student’s tribes are displayed, and the phrase ‘On Gadigal Land’ appears on the sleeve, grounding the design in both individual heritage and the place where the students now belong. In this way, the shirt weaves together the story of where the students have come from with the community they are now part of, creating a meaningful symbol of belonging and cultural connection.
Once the design was finalised, we sought an Indigenous-owned supplier who could bring it to life with care and integrity. We chose Mardaa, a collaborator committed to combining creative vision with ecological and cultural responsibility, producing merchandise that empowers Indigenous voices while promoting connection and pride.
The project gained further momentum through the generous support of the P&C, who funded the initiative in full. Their contribution symbolises a belief not only in Indigenous scholarships but also in investing in the future of the Koori Club. We were also able to order shirts in advance for new students joining through the scholarship program, ensuring they, too, could feel a sense of belonging from day one.
This shirt is a symbol of community, a reflection of Megan Sampson’s dedication and a testament to the generosity of the Parents and Carers’ Association and the wider IGS community.
