One of the Highlands’ own has made a name for themselves at the Winter Paralympics- but not in the way you’d think.
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Bowral’s Rheanna Lotter has her designs included on the Australian team uniforms.
She was contacted by a company called WiteKite who had seen her designs for the 2017 Greater Western Sydney Giants Indigenous Round.
Impressed by what she had already done, she was offered the chance to design the Australian Paralympic Team uniform.
She completed two designs for the team.
“One was centred around the journey for each Paralympian, the adversities and challenges they faced,” she said.
“The other design was how the they used those adversities and challenges in the fight to become professional athletes.”
The 23-year-old said the reality of her achievement had still not entirely sunk in.
“It’s incredible, it still doesn’t feel real. It’s definitely hard to put into words, but I am very grateful for the opportunity to share our beautiful culture around the world.
“I am so proud to be an Aboriginal woman, and to see how much the Australian Paralympic Committee value our culture is very special.”
Rheanna has been working on her business Ngandabaa (which means Red Belly Black Snake) for about three years.
She named this business after her grandfather and the Ngandabaa was his totem.
Following this achievement, Rheanna said she hoped to continue sharing her culture with Australia and the rest of the world.
“I have always wanted to mix my love for sport and my culture together showing Aboriginal art in unique ways. I know that this opportunity was very special, and not everyone gets the chance to do something like this.”