A modern day Corroboree: towards a history of the New South Wales Aboriginal Rugby League Knockout

Sport as a cultural offset in Aboriginal Australia?

“…The Freedom Ride and the subsequent 1967 Referendum landslide 'yes' vote, gave Aboriginal peoples cause to feel optimistic that self-determination was a very real prospect (McAllister 2018;Pratt and Bennett 2004). In 1970, six top-level Aboriginal rugby league playersdisillusioned by the New South Wales state officialdom making it tough for Aboriginal players to break inorganized the first Koori Knockout in 1971 (the term 'Koori' is a regional term Aboriginal peoples from New South Wales and Victoria use to identify themselves and their location in Australia) (Jopson 2010;McAllister 2018;Norman 2006Norman , 2012Smith 2016;Sydney Barani 2013;Thackray 2018).…”

“…Initially, the concept of an all-Aboriginal rugby league carnival was intended to provide a stage for talented Aboriginal rugby league players who, for reasons of racism and lack of country-based recruitment, had been overlooked by talent scouts (Norman 2006). Even in the initial stages, it was envisaged as a way of celebrating culture while also offsetting systemic disadvantage (in this case relating most obviously to the sport system).…”

“…Even in the initial stages, it was envisaged as a way of celebrating culture while also offsetting systemic disadvantage (in this case relating most obviously to the sport system). As Aboriginal peoples connected as kin and shared experience of moving from country towns to the city, the founders were more than aware and respectful of the experiences and epistemologies of Aboriginal peoples in the same situation (Norman 2006). However, the Koori Knockout has always been a site where political movements were formed, and discussion of politics took place (Jopson 2010;Norman 2006;Smith 2016).…”

“…As Aboriginal peoples connected as kin and shared experience of moving from country towns to the city, the founders were more than aware and respectful of the experiences and epistemologies of Aboriginal peoples in the same situation (Norman 2006). However, the Koori Knockout has always been a site where political movements were formed, and discussion of politics took place (Jopson 2010;Norman 2006;Smith 2016). Although it was a different football code, Perkins himself, actually attended the Koori Knockout thirty or so years ago (Adair and Stronach 2014;Jopson 2010).…”

Deficit discourses of Indigenous high school students in physical education and school sport and the benefit of a strengths based alternative

“…However, there are other ways in which Indigenous students in PESS can be viewed according to this approach. For example, research has already been carried out into how Aboriginal people continue their culture through Western sport and sports competitions or tournaments (Bamblett, 2011;Godwell, 1997;Norman, 2006). Genuine and meaningful inclusion of Indigenous perspectives in PESS has a much greater importance beyond the Australian curriculum health and physical education (ACARA, 2015).…”