Indigenous Studies Series - Sports Biographies

From the early days of the colonies, Aboriginal people were distinct by nature of their athleticism, strength and endurance. This was noted numerous times by explorers, pastoralists and by travelers. The harbour suburb of Manly was named after the people Captain Arthur Philip encountered. Aboriginal people culturally and genetically were predisposed to endurance, speed of movement and general physical strength. This showed up when aboriginals involved themselves in competitive sporting events from the early days of the colony. These are stories of great sporting Australians who contributed to not only Aboriginal sporting prowess but to the nation as a whole. Each of these stories is inspirational, interesting and provides an historical context to the colonisation, development and place that Aboriginal people have continued to struggle to obtain.

Depending upon your classes stage of interest in Indigenous Studies will determine where you start in the reading and discussion of these sporting greats. This will form a rich resources for many lessons on sports people.

It is a hard decision to select a specific number of aboriginal sporting legends. The plan was to go across codes, genders and types of sports. These are the legends covered within this publication:-

• Anthony Mundine - boxing and rugby league,
• Gavin Wanganeen - AFL
• Eddie Gilbert - cricket
• Mark Ella - rugby union
• Jonathan Thurston - rugby league
• Evonne Goolagong - tennis
• Kathy Freeman - running
• Nova Peris - hockey and sprinting

These are some but not all of the sporting greats treated in this comprehensive resource. It discusses the context from the historical perspective, the actual achievements, the contribution and the ongoing work that person did for their communities and the nation. The stories are inspirational, motivational and give a pathway for all young Australians to follow and make their own success.