http://canberra.yourguide.com.au/de... sport&story_id=316080&y=2004&m=6
New look honours league's history
By Bevan Hannan
Thursday, 24 June 2004
The Green Machine will transform into the Dream Machine when it wears a commemorative playing strip to mark the Canberra Raiders Reconciliation Day in August.
For the first time since being formed in 1982, the Raiders will replace its traditional green for its round 24 NRL match against the Sydney Roosters with a specially designed jersey as a mark of recognition to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
The one-off jumper will contain the red, black and yellow colours that represent Indigenous Australians, as well as the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags.
Ngunnawal elder Matilda House and Indigenous Affairs Minister Amanda Vanstone both commended the Raiders for joining forces with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission to make such a public statement.
Raiders community relations manager Paul Osborne was influential in the Raiders signing a pledge of reconciliation two years ago which paved the way for the historic jumper switch.
"I thought how big would it be if Canberra gave up its traditional green colours to play in Aboriginal colours as an acknowledgement of the contribution that the indigenous community has made to the Raiders and to our code," Osborne said.
"It sends a great message especially to young Aboriginal kids about how we view them as a team and as a code.
"Our chairman John McIntyre commented on the Indigenous players we had in our early teams. David Grant was our first captain and he was Aboriginal. They are an important part of our history."
Aboriginal identity House said her own father Douglas Williams was a country rugby league star in the 1940s, alongside the grandfather of former NRL stars Ken and Kevin McGuinness.
"They showed that racism didn't stand in their way," House said. "Being ostracised growing up never stopped them from forging ahead and making a career out of the best game in the world. Recognition never came. This is why I am happy about what is happening now. The recognition wasn't there for them to be picked for Australia or important games at that time. They were overlooked because they were Aboriginal people."
New look honours league's history
By Bevan Hannan
Thursday, 24 June 2004
The Green Machine will transform into the Dream Machine when it wears a commemorative playing strip to mark the Canberra Raiders Reconciliation Day in August.
For the first time since being formed in 1982, the Raiders will replace its traditional green for its round 24 NRL match against the Sydney Roosters with a specially designed jersey as a mark of recognition to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
The one-off jumper will contain the red, black and yellow colours that represent Indigenous Australians, as well as the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags.
Ngunnawal elder Matilda House and Indigenous Affairs Minister Amanda Vanstone both commended the Raiders for joining forces with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission to make such a public statement.
Raiders community relations manager Paul Osborne was influential in the Raiders signing a pledge of reconciliation two years ago which paved the way for the historic jumper switch.
"I thought how big would it be if Canberra gave up its traditional green colours to play in Aboriginal colours as an acknowledgement of the contribution that the indigenous community has made to the Raiders and to our code," Osborne said.
"It sends a great message especially to young Aboriginal kids about how we view them as a team and as a code.
"Our chairman John McIntyre commented on the Indigenous players we had in our early teams. David Grant was our first captain and he was Aboriginal. They are an important part of our history."
Aboriginal identity House said her own father Douglas Williams was a country rugby league star in the 1940s, alongside the grandfather of former NRL stars Ken and Kevin McGuinness.
"They showed that racism didn't stand in their way," House said. "Being ostracised growing up never stopped them from forging ahead and making a career out of the best game in the world. Recognition never came. This is why I am happy about what is happening now. The recognition wasn't there for them to be picked for Australia or important games at that time. They were overlooked because they were Aboriginal people."
