In 2022, Wadawurrung Traditional Owner and artist Billy-Jay O'Toole designed Torquay Hockey Club's Indigenous jerseys to wear during NAIDOC Week.
Now that same design is permanently imprinted in the synthetic pitch of the Tornadoes' new home at Banyul-Warri Fields sporting precinct.
O'Toole's work is no secret across Victoria's Surf Coast and Geelong area, with his work and commissions gracing murals and public spaces from schools to viewing for locals and tourists alike on a rail bridge along the Surf Coast Highway, under the name Papul Art.
'BJ' has also created pieces for the Deakin University and Barwon Coast, the committee of coastal care managers for 22km of the Bellarine coastline.
He's also been a regular contributor to community Hockey and football uniforms, as well as boots, and Supercars.
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He's also been a carer for Country as a cultural heritage officer at Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation.
It was the hockey club who proposed for his design to be a permanent fixture at their training and playing facility.
"The U between the spears and boomerang represents the strength of the men and women in a club where all genders are welcome," he said.
"The big U in the centre represents the hockey club as one big family, players, sponsors, volunteers and community."
"Given the artwork was completed for the Torquay Tornadoes for NAIDOC Week and it now gets to be part of their home facility, it's really special," BJ said.
Banyul-Warri Fields' hockey field is set to open next month.
Bring used is Olympics-standard Poligras Platinum artificial grass. It will be just one of two pitches in the country layed with it.
Local state member Gayle Tierney expressed his support for the initiative utilising a Tradition Owner in O'Toole's work.
"It's wonderful to see local Wadawurrung talent like Billy-Jay featured so prominently at Banyul-Warri Fields," he 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."
"Local excitement continues to build for this awesome new facility, particularly from Torquay Tornadoes Hockey Club who advocated for the pitch over many years.
"We're proud to team up with the Victorian Government to deliver another important project in the Banyul-Warri Fields sporting precinct."
The upgrade to the Tornadoes' home came via state government regional sports funding.
