Koorie News
It has been an exciting and meaningful couple of weeks for our Koorie community at Wantirna College, with several important events highlighting student leadership, cultural pride, and community connection.
Congratulations Lleyton Trott
We are proud to welcome Lleyton Trott as our new Junior Koorie Captain. Lleyton joins our student leadership team and will play an important role in representing and supporting Koorie students across the College. We congratulate Lleyton on this achievement and look forward to seeing the positive impact he will make in his new role.
Victorian Aboriginal Remembrance Service
On Sunday 31 May, I attended the Victorian Aboriginal Remembrance Service along with Koorie Captain, Tash Rinderhagen-Douglas. We were honoured to lay our student-made wreath on behalf of the Wantirna College community.
This annual event is held during Reconciliation Week at the Shrine of Remembrance and honours Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander service personnel. The service pays tribute to the contributions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men and women who have served, or continue to serve, in the Australian Defence Force.
For over a century, First Nations people have participated in conflicts and peacekeeping missions involving Australia, yet their service was historically under-recognized. The annual service provides an opportunity for all Victorians to acknowledge their sacrifice and enduring legacy during Reconciliation Week, fostering respect and reconciliation across the community. We were privileged to be involved in the ceremony and represent our college with respect and pride.
New Basketball Jersies
On Friday 5 June, we celebrated the launch of our new Indigenous-designed basketball jersey during the Staff vs Student Basketball Game.
The jersey showcases Indigenous culture and identity and is a fantastic addition to our sporting program. The launch was made even more special by the incredible participation from both staff and students.
It was wonderful to see so many staff take to the court, including members of our Principal team, teachers, and Wellbeing and Inclusion staff! The number of students who watned to be involved was overwhelming, as were the numbers of students and staff cheering enthusiastically from the sidelines.
The event was a great success, bringing our school community together through sport, culture, and school spirit.
A special mention to Nick Elliot, the 2025 Marrung Leader who worked alongside our Koorie students to design and create our new jerseys.
Nick explains the design:
The Indigenous-designed basketball jersey is a deeply meaningful and symbolic creation, shaped by the cultural identities and artistic input of Wantirna College First Nations students.
At its heart, the design reflects the connection to water, a vital life source and a powerful metaphor for movement and unity. Inspired by the name Wantirna, which means “gurgling stream,” a flowing water motif runs through the jersey, symbolizing the journey of striving, achieving, excelling, and respecting—both on the court and in life.
The front of the jersey features a meeting place in the shape of a basketball, surrounded by five gum leaves representing the team of designers: four students and one teacher.
Around them, various symbols of animals embody the values of diversity, inclusion, and strength through difference—highlighting that just like the five players on the court, everyone has a role to play and should be accepted for who they are.
Spears and boomerangs are woven into the design to symbolize power and pride, historically used to project strength and intimidate opponents. These elements reinforce the resilience and identity of the players wearing the jersey.
On the back, handprints showcase the theme of unity and support, with each finger symbolizing a student and their cultural heritage:
- Max Peters (Wurundjeri/Yorta Yorta)
- Natasha Rinderhagen-Douglas (Ngarrindjeri/Gunditjmara)
- Jackson Peters (Wurundjeri/Yorta Yorta)
- and Nick Janssen (Taungurung)
Every colour and design element has significance. The jersey is primarily white with navy trim, while the water and waterholes are depicted in shades of cobalt and light blue. Spears are shown in black with gradients, and boomerangs in brown with ochre-lined ends.
The stepping stones transition through a gradient of orange, brown, and red, fading into nothingness to represent journey and transformation.
Animals are illustrated in black, and the leaves are sage green for the students from Wurundjeri, Ngarrindjeri, Gunditjmara, Yorta Yorta, and Taungurung nations.
This jersey is not just sportswear—it’s a visual story of culture, connection, and pride, created by Wantirna College First Nation students who were at the heart of its design.
These events reflect the strength of our Koorie community and our commitment to celebrating Aboriginal culture, leadership, and community at Wantirna College.
Courtney Moran
Marrung Leader