First Nations culture takes centre stage this Indigenous Round

Published Wed 21 May 2025

The vital influence of First Nations culture in hockey and the broader community will take centre stage this weekend, as the Stiles Electrical Premier League celebrates its Indigenous Round.

Running from Friday 23 May to Sunday 25 May, the round will see teams don specially designed Indigenous uniforms and participate in ceremonies that acknowledge First Nations culture.

These events will span across the league and extend into associated competitions.

This meaningful round also leads into National Reconciliation Week, observed from 27 May to 3 June.

This 2025 theme, Bridging Now to Next, speaks to the enduring connection between past, present and futures – encouraging all Australians to move forward together, informed by history and inspired by a shaped vision.

In recognition of the occasion, players will wear Indigenous uniforms created by local Aboriginal artists.

Each design tells a unique story about the club and its community, offering powerful moments of cultural expression and connection throughout the round.

Indigenous Uniform Information

Club		Information
Curtin University		Each circle represents an era of the club. The space at the bottom is intentionally left open to represent our continuing story. The dots surrounding the piece represent new beginnings, along with the energy and vibrancy this brings as the club continues to evolve. The stripes behind the circles represent the people who make the club; the players, coaches, managers, spectators and the true supporters. The Men’s & Women’s Premier League have had an Indigenous uniform since 2022. Design for the uniform represents the history and journey of Pirates, Trinity and Curtin University Hockey Clubs. It was designed by local Noongar artist Jarni McGuire (JARNI Creative) who with her family has had a long association with the club.
Fremantle Cockburn		The meeting places with the u symbol representing the people who gathered at the clubs. The lines between each waterhole represent the walking trails with the Kulbardi (Magpie) tracks making the journey between each new waterhole. The first three waterholes are on the back of the shirt with the last part of the journey taking us to Lakelands Reserve, our beloved Nest which is positioned over our hearts on the front of the shirt. There is a Magpie or in Noongar language we say Kulbardi pronounced kool-barr-dee on the front of the shirt looking up at the Nest. There is a Magpie or in Noongar language we say Kulbardi pronounced kool-barr-dee on the front of the shirt looking up at the Nest. These wetlands were once a place where Whadjuk Noongar people lived in harmony hunting, fishing and gathering with plenty of food and water to live off.
Melville		Designed by Terri Golding. In 1956 there were sixteen young boys who wanted to play hockey closer to their home. Each of these men have been recognised in the design and are represented by a star. The journey lines that connect and continue down the front of the shirt are full of significant moments. In the years that followed, there would be highs and lows that would see the stalwart members having to dig deep to hold their beloved club together, which they did. The journey lines finish when they connect to the larger meeting placeWindelya (morris buzzcott) which represents the Melville City Hockey Club. The U shape on the design represents a person. Inside the meeting place there is a U for every life member that has given so much to the club. The U shape that flowed around from the back to the front gathering around the meeting place are symbolizing all the members that create the Melville City Hockey Club. It is showing the proud and ongoing connection all the members have to the continued success of the club.
North Coast Raiders		Designed by Utah John-Furnace. The design includes the history of the North Coast Raiders from the start of the Perth club in 1905 and signifying the City of Perth swan, which the club still uses today. The design includes the river and the sea, sky and bush symbolising when the club moved to become the Scarborough Hockey Club and then in 1989 the move to become the North Coast Raiders in North Beach.
Reds		Designed by Ash Collard. The front central image shows a yellow bordered image in the middle representing our special meeting place with the four stars in the corners that represent how we want to strive and shine. The yellow and red on the front down the outside left side represents everyone - all different cultures connecting together. The red central circle represents the stories told around the camp fires, while the blue represents our waterways where our river runs. On the back is the design is again depicting the meeting place.
UWA		Designed by Harry Golding. Our design celebrates the Whadjuk Noongar land on which the club is situated, highlighting community, culture, and connection. The central meeting place represents the greater community and welcomes everyone to the club. The surrounding meeting places represent the Maaman (men’s), Yorga (women’s), Koolangka (children’s), and Uni Associates teams, with each dot symbolising the number of teams. Traditional Noongar tools and patterns are included to honour culture, while clear dots in each meeting place represent growth. Overall, the design brings people together and reflects pride in both land and community.
Victoria Park		Designed by Robin Keen. The background on the left and right-side panels represents the mud flats along the Derbari Yerrigan (Swan River). On each side panel are meeting places which represent the amalgamation in between the Xavier Colleges Old Boys and the Victoria Park Men’s Hockey Club. These meeting places have ‘U’ shapes which is a symbol for a person sitting around a campfire. Centre of the jersey are two white strips with a dot painting design along each side representing the Derbari Yerrigan (Swan River), where the town of Victoria Park resides. It is also shaped as a ‘V’ to represent the team’s current jersey with the white and tangerine ‘V’. Back top left is a transparent dot pattern representing the central town of Victoria Park with outer towns such as Burswood, St. James, Ellam Street, Heirisson Island, etc. In between the rivers are kangaroo tracks travelling upwards representing the club growing and moving forward and at the top of the neck is also a small river pattern.
WASPS		The centrepiece on the chest serves as a symbol of the cherished meeting place where players, coaches, devoted families and all the remarkable individuals who selflessly contribute to the success of WASPS come together in harmony. Above the centrepiece is the interconnected waterways and they show the individual journeys of all the hockey players and how they all come back together to form what is our hockey community.
Whitford		Designed by Stephen Reid. In this design, the dots continue as an aura but also represent the people of the club and community and still holds the shapes of the traditional uniform. The dots that surround the number provide a protective aura for that player and keeps them safe while on the field. The hands represent a stamp of approval by the younger and older members and players for this club and its values. The lighter blue shapes depict a meeting place with one showing members and players sitting around together. The shapes around the collar also show individual members/players sitting around either talking or watching hockey.
YMCC		Designed by Stephen Reid. Growing up in Dwellingup and Narrogin, Stephen was adopted and didn’t find out his heritage until later in life, some of his blood relatives were artists which enriched his own artistic talents. Stephen has been a YM club member for over 25 years The green boomerang shapes represent the adults sitting around protecting the youth represented in the middle by yellow dots. The inner shape represents when kids have obstacles in life, or while playing hockey, that they need to get around using their skills. The white circles represent a meeting place. On the back the dots represent people, and it creates an aura around them, and the aura protects the YM club and its members. The number is protected when the player is wearing the shirt on the field. The white V has been changed slightly to more of a natural feel, as the club is surround by nature and is close to the ocean. The YM logo is protected by the ring of dots representing the people and aura around the club.

Stiles Electrical Premier League Indigenous Round fixtures

Match	Date	Time	Venue
WASPS vs Whitford	Friday 23 May	Men: 7.00pm Women: 8.30pm	Perth Hockey Stadium
Mods-OGM vs Fremantle Cockburn	Saturday 24 May	Men: 1.00pm	Troy Pickard Hockey Centre
Victoria Park vs YMCC*	Saturday 24 May	Men: 2.00pm Women: 5.00pm	Perth Hockey Stadium
Melville vs UWA*	Saturday 24 May	Men: 4.00pm Women: 6.00pm	Melville Toyota Stadium
North Coast Raiders vs Westside Wolves	Sunday 25 May	Men: 1.00pm Women: 2.30pm	Troy Pickard Hockey Centre
Reds vs Hale*	Sunday 25 May	Women: 4.00pm Men: 5.45pm	Aquinas College

*Welcome to Country/Smoking Ceremony due to take place between Premier League matches.

The Friday night double-header between WASPS and Whitford will be broadcast LIVE and FREE on Live Hockey WA.

Those with a Live Hockey WA subscription will be able to stream matches taking place at Perth Hockey Stadium and Melville Toyota Stadium across Hockey WA’s junior and senior competitions.

The Stiles Electrical Premier League is proudly supported by Stiles Electrical Services.

Gallery

Stiles Electrical Premier League Comps and Events Indigenous Round