Students from The Entrance Campus of Tuggerah Lakes Secondary College participated in the Boots for Brighter Futures Program and presented boots painted with Aboriginal designs to Sydney Roosters players for the Indigenous Round of the National Rugby League.
Now in its fifth year, Boots for Brighter Futures is an initiative of the Cultural Choice Association and supported by the NRL, helping to support young Indigenous people in establishing strong mental health and positive lifestyle habits.
It’s a program that celebrates culture, with Indigenous students sharing their stories through their artwork designs painted on boots which were then presented to nominated NRL players for them to wear during last week’s Indigenous Round of the NRL competition.
The Tuggerah Lakes students teamed up with others from Belmont High School and together they designed and painted 24 pairs of boots.
The young artists were encouraged to share their stories and express their sense of pride and identity through their work on the boots.
Many elected to incorporate motifs that reflected a player’s journey to the NRL, as well as symbols that displayed their cultural heritage.
Students were thrilled to personally present their artwork-on-boots to Sydney Roosters players to wear in their May 19 match against St George Illawarra Dragons, who snatched a last-minute victory 24-22.
The boots will be auctioned through the Cultural Choice Association, which will invest all the proceeds into the Boots for Brighter Futures Program.
Sue Murray