Student artist's stunning Indigenous strip brings Bull Sharks "together"

The Bull Sharks are in boots, jumpers and all to mark National Reconciliation Week.

With Queensland Premier Rugby’s Indigenous Round aligning with NAIDOC Week when the Bull Sharks have the bye, Bond Rugby have chosen this week to celebrate our First Nations people.

The first-grade men and premier women’s sides will wear an Indigenous inspired jumper designed by Bond Bachelor of Business and Social Science student Imogen Clarence.

The 22-year-old Kamilaroi woman, who grew up in Bigambul country in Goondiwindi, is using proceeds from her burgeoning art career to establish a family run Indigenous Allied Health service for remote communities – and hopes to develop her own form of art therapy. 

What started as a way to cope with exam stress and then a Covid lockdown has now become a passion which she hopes to combine with her plans to work as a counsellor. 

“I absolutely love it, I could do it all day and night I find it a really healthy coping mechanism,” she said.

“And I love counselling and I think the two connect really well.

“’ll be looking at specialising in early intervention and generational trauma.”

Her first ever painting “Together” which tells the story of the many different cultures that come together to form Bond University, has been converted into the strip to be worn on Saturday and by Bond’s athletes at this year’s Indigenous University Games.

Bond’s John Eales Rugby Excellence scholarship recipient Zoe Hanna got her first look at the new strip when she modelled it for our photograph and was thrilled with the final result.

“It is such a beautiful design, it looks incredible on the jumper and I’m so excited to be able to wear it this weekend,” she said.

The Bond Rugby Club and the Bond University Women’s Network have also thrown their support behind “Boots for One and All Community.”

The Gold Coast family run charity seeks to eliminate poverty amongst the rural Indigenous population. 

They collect pre-loved football boots, sporting gear, clothing, sanitary items and other donations to send out to remote communities.

They will be set-up at The Canal on Saturday where any spectators for the Bull Sharks match against reigning premiers the Wests Bulldogs who wish to support the charity can donate gear or buy raffle tickets.