The NRL kicked off their Indigenous Round for 2021 last weekend and the Sydney Roosters ran out onto the field wearing Kempsey artist Jason Ridgeway's custom jersey design.

For Jason, a proud Dunghutti man and diehard Roosters fan, the moment, which he witnessed in person, was a dream come true.

"The feeling is surreal; it still hasn't sunk in," Jason said.

"It was more than a privilege to get the opportunity to design the jersey, but then to be there on the night, I was very honoured to be a part of it all.

"And then to top it off, the Roosters came away with the win over the Raiders 44 to 16. Go you Roosters."

The journey to Saturday's game was a long one for Jason, and started with a chance meeting at the Macleay Vocational College in the wake of the bushfires which devastated large parts of NSW.

"Since I started painting about six years ago, I always wanted to design something for the NRL's Indigenous Round," he said.

"Then, about two years ago, around the time of the bushfires, (Roosters coach) Trent Robinson and some of the boys were visiting the Vocational College, and we just started talking.

"I showed him some of my work, and he gave me his email, and we went from there; I guess it was meant to be."

After a bit of back and forth, Jason and the club came up with a design that incorporated Sydney's Eastern Suburbs, the Roosters heartland, and Jason's own artistic and cultural vision, which draws heavily on landscapes and The Moon.

"The design has a map representing the Eastern Suburbs, along with meeting places, some walking tracks and the landscape in the middle," Jason said.

"I pretty much add in those landscapes in all of my work; it's my headspace for artwork, a thinking place.

"With The Moon, up in our area, we have a lot of different beliefs and stories that have happened during night time, and it gives that sense of stability and protection."

Jason never sought to be an artist, but after experiencing a life-shattering tragedy, the born and bred Kempsey man started painting as a coping mechanism.

"Six years ago, I lost my little sister to suicide; I started painting as a coping mechanism," he said.

"I had never really thought about painting for a living; I worked in hospitality for 12 years, and then as a teacher's aide at the Vocational College, but I've had a bit of success with it the last few years, so I've kept at it."

Jason Ridgeway also creates murals, surfboards and other custom artworks. To see more of his work, check out his Facebook page: Blackboycreations.

Alternatively, go to his Instagram @ Blackboycreations.

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