Pioneers Celebrate First Nations Round with HISTORIC Uniform DESIGNED BY LOCAL INDIGENOUS ARTIST

The Pioneers Basketball Club would like to acknowledge the Traditional Owners of country across Australia, the Aboriginal people and their spiritual connections to waterways, land, sea, and sky. We pay respect to their ancestors and Elders, their traditions and culture, and we recognise the past while holding hope for a brighter future.

This weekend, the Mount Gambier Pioneers proudly take part in the 2025 NBL1 First Nations Round, an annual celebration that recognises the rich culture, history, and contribution of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to basketball and the broader community.

In a historic first, the Pioneers will wear their inaugural First Nations uniform as they travel across Tasmania. The women's and men's teams will take on the Hobart Chargers this Friday night at the Hobart Netball and Sports Centre, before continuing north where the women face the Launceston Tornadoes and the men challenge the North West Tasmania Thunder.

The 2025 First Nations uniform was designed by local Indigenous artist Belinda Bonney. Belinda is a proud Meintangk, Boandik, Ngarrindjeri, Kooma, and Murriwarri woman who grew up in Mount Gambier on Boandik Country. Belinda’s artistic practice reflects a deep connection to culture, place, and storytelling.

In her words, Belinda describes the uniform design titled "Huddle":

“The design tells the story of two teams in a huddle at the start of a game. The players and coaching staff are discussing team strategies; they’re getting hyped up and egging each other on to build team stamina and spirit.” said Bonney.

The First Nations Round is an important initiative that celebrates unity, inclusion, and respect across the league. It is supported by all NBL1 conferences, with each club recognising the contributions of Indigenous players, coaches, and communities to the game of basketball.

The Pioneers will also wear the First Nation’s Uniform in front of their home crowd at Wulanda on Friday the 11th of July, when they take on the Bendigo Braves.

More content, including photos of the Pioneers’ First Nations uniform, will be shared across the club’s social media channels in the lead-up to Friday’s game.