In celebration of NRL Indigenous round, the Sharks will wear a specially designed jersey that recognises Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples for the next two weeks.
The jersey will be worn against the Raiders this Sunday and then again in round 11 when the Sharks host the Bulldogs at Southern Cross Group Stadium.
Sutherland Shire local elder Aunty Deanna Schieber hand-designed the jersey and was present today at a Sharks diversity session to explain its meaning.
"The importance of the design is for the Cronulla Sharks and the Dharawal people – the Gweagal - and our area," said Aunty Deanna.
"That means it incorporates the sea, the Sharks that were in the sea, the colour of the pink shell which means Cronulla. It incorporates the Aboriginal people which is the black, and our non-indigenous brothers and sisters.
"Also, we do have Aboriginal tracking – they would have tracked all over this area, the campsites would have been all in this area - so it's very significant to the Sutherland Shire and the Cronulla Sharks."
It was essential that the jersey's design was completely unique, said Aunty Deanna.
"It's not then melted into all the other clubs," she explained. "We stand out, we stand alone as far as we have good ethics and a great program for young people.
"A lot of the designs are done on computers, but mine are always hand-painted. To me, that's very significant."
Also in attendance at the diversity event were the 'GLEN' Dance Group, who performed a series of traditional dances, including a farewell dance that featured enthusiastic cameos from Sharks players James Segeyaro, Will Kennedy, Edrick Lee and Jayden Brailey.
The GLEN Dance Group will also perform at the aforementioned Sharks home game against the Bulldogs on Sunday May 20.
Video production - Jess Ciccia - Gary Dover - Sharks Media
Words - Troy Whittaker
