Designed by Yorta Yorta woman Tammy-Lee Atkinson, from Mooroopna, the Vixens’ dress represented Victorian netball's return to the court in 2021, and set the scene beautifully as the side pulled off a last-gasp, 66-64 win against Queensland Firebirds.
Atkinson, an artist with Kaiela Arts, said she was offered the opportunity to design the dress through Netball Victoria's connection with Rumbalara Football Netball Club.
“My art has been connecting with both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities and I love the fact that I have been able to design the dress for the Melbourne Vixens, to me it has been an honour,” Atkinson said.
“My mum always supported me and told me since I started my art that it should go on a netball dress. She has always pushed me to believe my art needs to be on a dress.
“To have Indigenous Round for sport in general is amazing and is a great opportunity to highlight indigenous people. It’s amazing for netballers in Victoria to see and connect with the dress and highlight culture.”
The dress, which celebrates netball in Victoria, includes three circles representing the rivers connecting to Echuca — the Murray, Goulburn and Campaspe rivers — where Atkinson was born.
They also represent her siblings, with three each born in Echuca, Shepparton and Kerang.
The waterways forming part of the design represent the connection between sport, family and coming together, and meet together to represent the Vixens’ team values.
Atkinson's traditional form of artwork — linework — is seen on the dress and represents the land on which the Vixens play.
Vixens’ captain Kate Moloney was thrilled to wear Atkinson's design.
“To be able to wear this dress with Tammy-Lee's design is a privilege. Through the process with the playing group, she’s been able to bring to life the values of the Melbourne Vixens and netball in Victoria, while also acknowledging her culture and family,” Moloney said.
“Each year, we learn more about indigenous culture and what we can do to recognise and appreciate the traditional owners of the land. We know it takes more than just one or two weekends of netball, so at the Vixens and Netball Victoria, we will continue to listen and educate ourselves to ensure no opportunity for development or inclusion is lost.”
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