Where sports, innovation and public infrastructure come together
Where sports, innovation and public infrastructure come together
The new Banyul-Warri Hockey Pitch in Torquay on the Surf Coast in Australia features an artwork from a local artist. The artwork was tufted into the synthetic turf carpet.
The new hockey surface was funded through the Victorian Government’s Regional Sports Infrastructure Program, a program that uses public funding to upgrade local sports infrastructure. Apart from being the first of its kind in the area, the field features an artwork that was designed by Wadawurrung artist Billy-Jay O’Toole. The artist is member of the Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation, where he works as a Cultural Heritage Representative. Three years ago, O’Toole also designed the uniforms for the players of the hockey club. “It’s a unique artwork and something completely different from the logos or corporate messages we usually produce,” says Leon van Zijl of Signgrass, the company that produces the logo’s Polytan usually places in its hockey surfaces. “The inclusion of local art in synthetic turf surfaces is a trend that we are increasingly witnessing in countries like Australia, New-Zealand and Hawaii.” While cultures in these areas are known for their colourful and complex art forms, van Zijl claims that this doesn’t pose a technical challenge. “What matters to us are the technical specs of the synthetic turf field itself. We require a vector file of the logo, which our design team will use to create a programming file. This file is then uploaded to our tufting machine. ,Once the various specifications have been checked and set, the machine takes over.”
Van Zijl points out that logos can be produced for any type of synthetic turf surface. “We usually advise to use a large logo if one wants to include it in a long-pile synthetic turf surface. Logos to be used in a short-pile synthetic turf surface can be smaller and usually show more detail as they are not influenced by the free-pile or infill that is obscuring the detail.” While O’Toole used colours in his artwork that were distinctly different from the synthetic turf surface, Van Zijl managed to pull it off. “Over the years, we have built up a large stockpile of yarns in different colours, which allows us usually to produce the requested product. In case we don’t have the specific colour or the type of yarn in the requested colour, we discuss with the client an alternative that will not be visibly different to the naked eye.”
According to the artist himself, the artwork communicates the all inclusiveness of the hockey club. “The U between the spears and boomerang represents the strength of the men and women in a club where all genders are welcome,” he told a local news outlet. “The big U in the centre represents the hockey club as one big family; players, sponsors, volunteers and community.” The initiative has drawn the attention of local state member Gayle Tierney. “It’s wonderful to see local Wadawurrung talent like Billy-Jay featured so prominently at Banyul-Warri Fields,” she said. His artwork will give everyone who visits the new hockey facilities a sense of welcome, pride and connection to Wadawurrung Country. This is exactly what our investment in regional sports infrastructure is all about backing community, inclusion and the stories that make places like Torquay so special.”
The new artwork in new Banyul-Warri Hockey Pitch in Torquay on the Surf Coast in Australia
