Illawarra Hawks intern helps change Indigenous recognition debate in the NBL
Harry Pitt remembers the day he was asked to help design the Illawarra Hawks' inaugural Indigenous jersey.
External Link: Patty Mills on Illawarra Hawks' Indigenous jerseys: tweet
The 24-year-old university student, an intern with a graphic design background placed within a hard-working team of four full-time staff at the Hawks' head office in North Wollongong, was approached in relation to a pressing job.
"It happened probably somewhere in October," Pitt told the ABC.
"With Indigenous culture it is always about being respectful; and acknowledging the artist of where it came from, which is Glen Sutherland.
"I reinterpreted his artwork and placed it into the jersey."
The result of the project quickly became the centrepiece of a memorable tribute to Indigenous culture staged by the club, during a home match against the Sydney Kings in December.
The day was so successful it led to a passionate outcry from many of the game's most important stakeholders, who had been reminded of the league's lack of a regular Indigenous round.
In the days following the match the NBL confirmed it was looking at options for a league-wide Indigenous round, off the back of the Hawks' — and Pitt's — initiative.
"We are actively exploring how we best implement an Indigenous round next season," NBL chief executive Jeremy Loeliger revealed, after the league came under considerable pressure to do so.
"[The Hawks] showed tremendous leadership to stage a game that was not only embraced by fans, but was also a celebration of the game's Indigenous players."
Change a long time coming, Demos says
Hawks' ambassador and former player Tyson Demos says it is about time an Indigenous round was implemented across the league.
"To be honest, this conversation started years back from when I was still playing," he said.
"I think the NBL needs to take charge because it is long overdue.
"I know what has helped to get the support of the NBL; it was support from high-profile people.
"Together it was a group effort and everyone in the organisation and the community was so supportive of it.
"It is only the beginning really. It is about recognising the Indigenous community through basketball. I am pretty happy and proud about how it was received.
"People have noticed how important this is to Indigenous Australia. It did make a few people uncomfortable, but that is how you make change."
Lack of Indigenous players 'a bit poor'
The NBL currently only sports one active player with Indigenous heritage on a team roster; towering centre Nathan Jawai, who plays for the Cairns Taipans. While Australian international Patty Mills, a Canberra native, is one of the game's most marketable exports, plying his trade with San Antonio in the NBA.
Demos, who is now a case worker with the Illawarra Aboriginal Corporation, says there's a big opportunity at hand for the game to engage with Indigenous talent.
"If we can give these kids another outlet instead of hanging out at the shops, if we can put a basketball in their hand," he said, "it could be a stepping stone to finding the next Patty Mills.
"These kids out there have a natural ability and for there to only be one in the NBL at the moment, it's a bit poor."
'We are there to make our community better'
General manager of the Hawks, Mat Campbell, said he was proud his team, the only foundation club left in the NBL, had made such a lasting impact on the game in Australia.
External Link: Andrew Gaze on Illawarra Hawks' Indigenous jerseys: tweet
While they're not the first to don an Indigenous jersey in the NBL, Campbell said the idea to stage an Indigenous game had been discussed for a long time at the Hawks.
"We understand that winning championships is not just what we are here for," Campbell said.
"We are there to make our community better and by doing some of these things we are achieving that slowly.
"We all sat down at the start of the year and of things that we spoke about was potentially having a game and playing in an [Indigenous] jersey.
"Our owner was very receptive to that and we went about it from there."
Pitt, who has just agreed to continue working part time at the club, says the response to the work he did on Sutherland's artwork has wildly exceeded his expectations.
"That made me jump for joy," he told the ABC.
"I do hope to continue with it and to continue with the Hawks as well, it is a club I can get behind."
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