The 'Queenslander!’ exhibition showcases the integration of the State of Origin series into Queensland culture and the dynamic and vibrant nature of the name.
Maroons fans are loyal, vocal and dedicated and come from a cross-section of society. Fan objects are a focus of the display, including Peter Beattie’s personalised fan jersey, a Maroons commemorative birth certificate, a baby footysuit, thongs and fishing lures.
It also features key items donated by the QRL, including the 100th game ball and a pristine players’ uniform from the 2014 series.
We felt that the title ‘Queenslander!’ captured the spirit of the series. Queenslander has long been a rallying cry for the Maroons and it is heard at every game and is firmly interwoven with State of Origin lore.
This exhibition represents an unashamedly Queensland perspective on this sporting event.
Queensland Museum hasn’t tackled an exhibition of contemporary football sports before. However, sport is an important feature of Australian and Queensland culture and the Queensland Museum wishes to increase its collection of historic and contemporary sporting material.
Collecting contemporary objects allows us to build our collections so that our current cultural memories are not lost. In particular, unique, handmade objects or objects with strong personal stories create a window into the past for future generations.
If any Maroons fans have items that they wish to donate, please refer to the Queensland Museum website for our donation process.
The Queensland Museum is keen to spotlight significant social and cultural events in Queensland, and after 35 years and more than 100 games, State of Origin has truly become an iconic event for Queensland.
We hope that visitors to the exhibition learn something new about State of Origin and that they take home a sense of the vibrancy of game and the integration of the State of Origin series into the Queensland culture.
Furthermore, we are hoping they might be inspired to want to donate some personal sporting memorabilia.
The exhibition opened on February 28 and will run until August 30, 2015; coinciding with both NRL season and State of Origin series for this season. Don’t miss your chance to be part of the game.
The Museum wish to acknowledge that this exhibition was generously supported by the Queensland Rugby League, Rapala, CA Australia and Footysuit. Special thanks go to Troy Morton, Queensland Rugby League.
Visit: The Queensland Museum for more details.
