The Queensland Rugby Union’s seventh annual Indigenous Round was launched Monday with the unveiling of the Queensland Reds’ Indigenous jersey – to be worn this Friday against the Sunwolves at Suncorp Stadium – as the centrepiece of the QRU’s NAIDOC Week celebrations.

Reds players Moses Sorovi and George Smith unveiled the unique Indigenous Round jersey, designed by Samantha Booth, whose three children Shelley (Year 9), Dinequa (Year 8) and Natalie (Year 7) are Reds Future Indigenous Leaders Program participants in Woorabinda, Central Queensland.

The program seeks to identify young Indigenous leaders from remote communities and mentor them from school years 6-10, ensuring they display positive behaviour and attend school.

Samantha is a proud Butchulla woman. The Butchulla people are the Traditional Owners of K’gari (Fraser Island). She is currently a Special Education (& Well Being) Teacher Aide at Woorabinda State School.

“The Reds Future Indigenous Leaders Program is outstanding, and I can see how my three children are benefitting from being part of it – which will certainly help them in the future.

Indigenous Round jersey designer Samantha Booth with her three children Shelley (Year 9), Dinequa (Year 8) and Natalie (Year 7).

“This design was created to represent that all roads lead to home. With the hands as the central element, representing how family is at the core of every home.

“The warm colours represent the earth we stand on the dots represent different places across Australia, the animals represent bush food in Woorabinda and other communities, and the lines visually demonstrate that no matter where you go, you always come home.

“My first experience of Rugby Union was playing for the Maryborough Wallaroos and playing for Maryborough High School around the same time,” Samantha said.

In recognition of her artwork, Samantha has also received a bursary from the Queensland Government’s Office of the Commonwealth Games.

Minister for the Commonwealth Games, Kate Jones, said Samantha was a very well-deserving winner of the Indigenous Round Jersey competition said: “Samantha will also receive a bursary co-funded under the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games Embracing 2018 Legacy Program.

“This funding will be used to establish a community art program in Woorabinda which will no doubt inspire the next generation of Indigenous artists.”

The St.George Bank will also present Samantha with a $500 cheque on match-day to assist in kick-starting her future community projects.

The 2018 Reds Indigenous Round comes just over a year after Queensland Rugby Union launched its Reconciliation Action Plan.

The Indigenous Round match will also see the awarding of the Frank Ivory Medal to the Reds player of the match. The medal is named after Queensland’s first Indigenous player.

The Indigenous Round match-day jerseys will be auctioned at www.redsrugby.com.au to raise funds for the Queensland Reds Indigenous Program.

Queensland wrap up their Super Rugby schedule against the Sunwolves at Suncorp Stadium this Friday July at 13:45 (UAE time). The match will also be broadcast live on OSN Sports action.