Aboriginal artist Delvene Cockatoo-Collins has made history by designing the 2018 Commonwealth Games Gold, Silver and Bronze medals which were revealed on the 4 November at the GC2018 Charity Gala held at the Star Gold Coast.
Delvene is a local Nunukul, Ngugi and Goenpul woman of Quandamooka Country, who lives and works on Minjerribah, North Stradbroke Island – her mother and grandmother’s birthplace.
The medals are inspired by the Gold Coast’s coastline and the stories and traditions passed through generations.
For many generations the Gold Coast coastline has been a place for gathering, meeting and sport. The Medal design represents the soft sand lines which shift with every tide and wave and is symbolic of athletic achievement. As the water moves towards low tide, each wave moves the sand, creating and leaving behind new lines in the sand witnessed by those present.
The continual change of tide represents the evolution in Athletes who are making their mark. Records are made and special moments of elation celebrated. Although the moment in time may be fleeting, it is forever marked within the shells that are brought upon its tidelines.
The Medal Ribbon:
The woven strand of the freshwater reed, yungair, is three reeds woven to form a pattern which resembles many triangles joined together. It is reminiscent of the South-East Queensland and Gold Coast areas.
The traditional technique involves one reed as the working reed, which continually wraps around the other two reeds. Individually each reed has little function or purpose, however when connected together, they are strong and can have many functions, such as carrying babies and food.
It is a skill that has been passed down and shared through the generations. In Delvene’s family, an Aunty is the one who passed it down her mother, who then passed the skill on to her.
Aboriginal artwork to be worn by world champions at Commonwealth Games