Indigenous Champions

Some of our greatest sporting champions, past and present, have been indigenous Australians. A brief look at the history of sports such as Australian Rules football and rugby league reveals a surprisingly long list of players who have some Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander ancestry. Cathy Freeman and Patrick Johnson are currently two of the best known names in athletics, not only in Australia, but worldwide.

Indigenous sportspeople often have had to battle against racism and other socio-economic disadvantages but, like many other athletes who triumph over adversity, some have risen to become true champions.

Activities

• In an historical context, what contributions were indigenous people allowed to make to Australian sport? Why?

• Kevin Coombes was the first aboriginal person to participate in the Olympic Games (1960), as a paralympian. Create the newspaper headlines and a short article for The Australian.

• What would Coombes participation in this event have done for (a) paraplegics (b) aboriginal people as a race and (c) Australia as a nation?

• The origins of football, as we know it today was based on the game played by Aborigines who were naked and shoeless. Their game centred on a ball made of possum skin and kangaroo, packed with grass. How does it compare to the game of Australian Rules played today?

• In many ways, Aboriginal sports people pay homage to their Aboriginal ancestors. What has this done for the self- esteem of indigenous people?

• In 1997 Nova Peris Kneebone was named Young Australian of the Year. Give your reasons for why she should have received this award.

• Track star Kyle Vander-Kuyp tours the outback to give morale talks to Aboriginal children. In what others ways do aboriginal sports stars use their fame to promote causes and become role models for their people?

• Cathy Freeman has become one Of Australia's highest profiled athletes. Why is this so?

• At the last Olympic Games there was a record number of indigenous sports people. Select three and write a profile on each.

• The Marn Grook award is presented to young indigenous AFL players. What criteria are used to nominate for this award and what is its purpose?

• The Marn Grook Trophy is awarded to the winner of an annual match between the Sydney Swans and Essendon. What is the significance of these two teams for indigenous players? What is the significance of the name of the trophy?
  
  

Websites

Australian Aboriginal Sports Stars and Athletes

http://library.trinity.wa.edu.au/aborigines/sports.htm

A series of links to sites on the theme of indigenous sports stars.

ATSIC
www.atsic.gov.au
Official site for ATSIC - the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission. A great source of information on Indigenous Australians. According to ATSIC “The material on this site is designed to educate, inform and to entertain”.

Indigenous Sport- Traditional Indigenous Games
www.activeaustralia.org/isp/traditional.htm
Looks at some of the traditional sports played by Indigenous Australians before the arrival of whites.

Aborigines in Sport
www.aafla.org/SportsLibrary/ASSHSSH/ASSHSSH03.pdf
An entire online book, in pdf format, on Aborigines and their involvement- or impediments to involvement- in Australian sport. Be patient it may take a while to load, but it is worth the wait.

Books

Black Gold: The Aboriginal and Islander Sports Hall of Fame
By Colin Tatz et al
Looks at the greatest indigenous champions of Australian sport, with photographs of all of the sportspeople. (Aboriginal Studies Press)

Obstacle Race: Aborigines in Sport
By Colin Tatz
Looks at the problems that Indigenous Australians have had to overcome to become champions in their chosen sport. (UNSW Press)

Black Diamonds
By Colin Tatz
An earlier version of Black Gold, this is not as up to date but it still includes many of the indigenous sporting greats. (Allen and Unwin)

Catherine: Intimate Portrait of a Champion
By Cathy Freeman and Basquali
A pictorial tribute to Cathy Freeman with portraits of the great athlete and inspirational quotes. (Pan Macmillan)

The Man: Anthony Mundine
By Anthony Mundine
The Man's story in the Man's own words. One of the most famous and controversial Aborigines of recent times tells his story. (Ironbark Press)