Australian Dragon Boat Federation

          In 2010 the Australian Dragon Boat Federation (AusDBF) unveiled the first national team to be open to paddlers from all states and territories, following a move away from the state-based selection system of previous international campaigns.To mark the occasion, AusDBF asked the Australian paddling community to submit their suggestion for a team name that would become our national crewʼs identity. Among the diamonds in the rough, a small number of names were selected for final consideration before the paddlers selected for the 2010 Asian Championships cast a secret ballot to select the new national team moniker. ʻThe Aurorasʼ was adopted for our national team, and has already been embraced by the membership in the last 12 months. It is a unique label, and joins other national team brands like the ʻWallabiesʼ, ʻOpalsʼ, ʻSocceroosʼ and ʻMatildasʼ as a powerful sporting national identity.To mark the 2011 World Championship campaign, which saw paddlers drawn from all eight state and territories for the first time in a bid to represent Australia, AusDBF is again turning to the national paddling community to enhance our image, and this time, design an emblem for the Auroras.Thank you to everyone from around Australia who submitted their entries, and congratulations to Nathan Cain from Brisbane River Dragons, Queensland, who has been selected as the winner of the concept design. His design and descriptions of the artworkʼs components provide a particularly Australian and powerful symbol and logo we can proudly wear on the international stage.The triangular base shape portrays a position of strength and power while a simple colour pallet of Australian earth tones provides high contrast and maximises visual impact. The theme of the Aurora is maintained with the graphic bands of light across the logo. The subtle inclusion of Aboriginal style imagery is used to help truly identify the Auroras as our national team.