The Yass Minor Magpies unveiled their 2021 playing strips on Friday night at their Season Launch, with their new indigenous token the “Munnagai Wagabaliri” featuring prominently on the chest of the jersey.
The design idea stems from the club’s end of 2019 AGM, where it was suggested as a way of celebrating the club’s indigenous heritage.
“It was an AGM in 2019 where one of our committee members put a motion forward that we include something on our playing strip to recognise the Ngunnawal country that Yass resides in and the contribution and involvement that Indigenous people have always led throughout our club’s history.”
“That motion passed unanimously,” said Minor Magpies Club President Michael Inkster.
The unanimous passing of the motion led to a lengthy design process which began with the club merchandising team seeking out local indigenous artists to see if there would be interest in contributing to the project.
Scott Bell, a local Ngunnawal person put forward the eventual design hoping to complement the values of both the Ngunnawal people and the Yass Magpies.
Indigenous Elder and Life Member of both the Junior and Senior rugby league clubs, Ken Bell was nominated as the sole approver of the design.
“The design from Scott came back, we all loved it, Ken loved it and Ken approved the design for the jerseys for 2020 which has now become 2021.”
“We will now proudly display them on the 9th of April,” he said.
After hearing about their junior club’s idea, the Senior Magpies were soon to follow, instead choosing to place the totem on their jersey sleeve.
“We made the senior club aware that we were doing it and the senior club requested if they could also do it.”
“The senior players will have the totem on their sleeve this year, instead of the chest of the junior players,” said Michael.
The Club President wanted to emphasise that despite this being the first season with their indigenous heritage displayed on their jersey, the indigenous members of their community have long been a major part of their club.
“To us it’s something that we’ve always done.”
“It’s not a catch-up, it’s not a make-up, we’ve always had great cultural diversity throughout the club.
“It’s also a fact that Yass resides within Ngunnawal country, so to do something that is visually significant and morally significant was important to us all as a committee,” said Michael.
Michael said it was important for the young kids at the Magpies to understand the region and the clubs indigenous history and this totem was a way of opening up that conversation.
“There is a huge history of indigenous involvement within our club dating back to the 1920’s,”
“There’s quite a lot of thought that’s gone into the design and it relates back to the club and its history, and Ngunnawal values.”
“All the kids will wear it on their jerseys, they’ll wear it with pride and they’ll understand the meaning behind it,” he said.

The following is an extract from Scott and Tyahn Bell’s work explaining the meaning of the Munnagai Wagabaliri totem:
“Yuma (hello), this design we have created is dedicated to the Yass Magpies to pay homage to the “all blacks mission team” (1920s). The Munnagai Wagabaliri design has significant aspects culturally, spiritually and physically in respect to football and the dreamtime. Munnagai Wagabaliri translates in English to “come let’s play”, this is a friendly invitation to other competitors/teams. These words are important as it’s the core focus of the game for everyone.
The Maliyan (wedge-tail eagle) is in the centre of the design as it is our and our Ngunnawal peoples’ totem since the beginning of dreamtime. Totems define peoples’ roles, responsibilities and relationships with each other and the creation. Totems are also considered to be the descendants of dreamtime heroes. The Maliyan acts as a messenger between us and our ancestors, this connects us to the dreamtime, which was then, and which is now. We hope the Yass Magpie players aspire the spiritual traits of the Maliyan. In being an effective messenger with teammates and coaches, both on and off the field. Overall, the Yass Magpies will aspire to soar like the Maliyan spiritually in connecting with one another.
The circle around the Maliyan is known as a yarning circle. This emphasises the traits of the Maliyan, in creating a safe and open space for everyone to have a yarn. A yarning circle is simplistic, yet harmonious, creative and collaborative in engaging responsible, respectful and honest interactions between players.
The curvy zig-zag like lines are indicators of Yharr (running water). Yass in Ngunnawal is Yharr, as our people made a clear distinction of the town’s prominent feature. Yharr is life, is a concept not just Ngunnawal people follow, but all Aboriginal people. This is significantly important within Munnagai Wagabaliri design as it illustrates our reverence with water.
The Dyuinbula (spears) are used for hunting and gathering. The Munnagai Wagabaliri design isn’t to portray any negative energy. But to illustrate the Yass Magpies hunger to win and fulfil all senses of victory.
The Waranganbula (boomerangs) always return back to the hunter. We incorporated the Waranganbula in the design to foreshadow a key message to the players. That no matter the losses or up, and down journey experienced the Yass Magpies will always make a comeback, just like the Waranganbula.”
Incredible thought and effort has gone into these totems, and with these values being instilled within some of Yass’ youngest rugby league stars, let’s hope the totems will be a feature of the Yass Magpies uniforms for many years to come.
Max O’Driscoll
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