It’s become a tradition at our Marn Grook match to exchange a cultural gift with our opponent ahead of the game. At the coin toss on Friday night, captain Dane Rampe will give a stone axe to Carlton.

The axe has been crafted by artist Uncle Tony Clark, a proud Biripi man from Taree on the New South Wales mid-north coast.

Uncle Tony was born and bred in Wauchope and has resided on Biripi Country for his entire life. Growing up, he spent time with his Elders where he learnt many of his bush survival skills and traditional lore, that he teachers today. These teachings involve the protecting, gathering and use of orche for ceremony, bush management and sustainability, hunting and gathering of various food sources,  and identifying and manufacturing of artefacts and tools, such as spears, axe’s, coolamons, and digging sticks.

Uncle Tony is very active in the community where, in addition to educational workshops, he conducts on country camps and men’s business for the youth. He believes strongly in “educating through culture and traditional lore, to not only survive, but to thrive, walking in two worlds.”

The stone axe he has crafted for the gift exchange is made from blackbutt timber with a stone head from the Camden River.  All of the materials have been sourced locally on Biripi country.

The three markings at the top of the handle represent an adult’s lifecycle: childhood, adolescence and adulthood, while the three circles at the bottom of the handle represent one’s travel on Country.

The stone axe is an important tool for First Nations Peoples and traditionally had many purposes. It was used to hunt and gather, for clearing and preparing camp sites and tracks, as well as for battle.

The Sydney Swans extend our gratitude to Uncle Tony for his work to craft our 2024 Marn Grook gift.