The Sydney Swans and Carlton will kick off Sir Doug Nicholls Round on Friday night by exchanging cultural gifts at Marvel Stadium.
Sydney will give two beautifully painted emu eggs, which have been decorated in the colours of both clubs, curated by Aboriginal artist and proud Biripi, Worimi and Waradjuri Guri man Josh Sly.
“The emu eggs were chosen for the gift exchange as the emu is a very important bird in our culture,” said Sydney’s Indigenous Strategy and Player Development Manager Jarred Hodges.
“The emu provides us with sustenance through its meat and eggs. It also has medicinal properties and the feathers were used for body adornments.
“The emu is a totemic animal linking to traditional kinship systems. It is currently emu egg season, which runs from late April to early June, when the female is laying.”
The circle patterns on the emu eggs are symbolic of both teams and their communities coming together on Country.
“The eggs are resting in a hand-crafted coolamon, using traditional methods to cut and design. The coolamon was traditionally used to carry and transport food and water but was also used as a baby cradle,” Hodges said.
The Sydney Swans take on Carlton on Friday night, 7:50pm at Marvel Stadium.
