Our Reconciliation Art
Design Story - Connections
This story represents the national water polo teams (the Aussie Stingers and Aussie Sharks) and the amazingly long list of administrators, coaches, referees and members who make up the incredible community.
This painting represents the dedication to building and binding communities that connect over inclusivity, respect and equality. The patterns inside each animal coincide with the patterns of connection that start with one member, one team and one club to reach out and include them in the community as one sport. Within the sport, so many connections lead to support, camaraderie, leadership and success.
The people in the middle represent leadership that meet and create sustainable change and growth. Change that nourishes the sport its communities and shows how the networks combine and make space for future generations to be involved and participate. Water Polo Australia represents the members, the community and the connection of support that all can be involved.
Design Symbols and Meaning
Embedded throughout the design is the use of the Indigenous symbols and the artists own interpretations, bring to life the story of the design.
The depiction of the Stingray and Shark represent the Australian Senior Water Polo Teams and include the seven Indigenous symbols within each representing the seven women and men in the water at a time.
The middle section represents the meeting place of the water polo leadership and community and is surrounded by the Indigenous symbol for People.
The dots and line style represent the relaxing movement of water in the artist's own style.
The background colours represent Water Polo Australia.
About the Artist 
Brad Hore competed in two Olympics as a Flyweight Boxer at the Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004 Olympics. As an athlete Brad competed as an amateur and professional Boxer at an international level for over 25 years.
Sport contributed to his passion for community and with the support of his family and community he was able to advance his career, but nothing ever came close to coming home to country.
Brad has worked in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health for over 10 years, advancing and encouraging his people through closing the gap initiatives, sporting involvements and local community projects. He is a big advocate for mental health and regularly comments on how returning home to country can be a very healing experience.
Brad's Indigenous identity is a credit to his grandmother and mother, both Dunghutti women, who lead the way to never giving up and giving back to their people.
Art has not always been something that interested Brad, it was more his brother's forte, but when COVID-19 hit in 2020, Brad's outgoing and extroverted nature needed an outlet. During this time, he struggled with his own mental health, and art became a way to provide a precision type focus and connection to country.