Racism and sport in Australia

Contested space – the Australian Aboriginal sporting arena

“…7 Throughout the nineteenth century cricket was a widespread success in Aboriginal communities, and successful players and teams were visible at missions, including Poonindie in South Australia, Coranderrk in Victoria in the 1870s and 1880s, Cummeragunja in New South Wales in the 1880s, New Norcia in Western Australia between 1880 and 1905, and Deebing Creek in Queensland, from 1894 to 1906. 8 One of the most significant (and most famous) sporting moments of this period was the highly successful Aboriginal cricket tour of England in 1868. Sadly, by the turn of the century, Aboriginal opportunities to play cricket and many other sports had declined.…”

“…Sports historian Colin Tatz has pointed out that it was 'not possible that the black men were born "genetic" throwers: the suspicion must remain that they were especially singled out for obvious reasons'. 10 They were selected to represent their states of Queensland and New South Wales. Both Henry and Gilbert at differing time periods were hailed as the fastest bowler in the world.…”

“…If any newspaperman wants to do me a favour he can call me an Aborigine as often as he mentions my name -because that is what I am and if I am going to be a success it is important that I be known as an Aboriginal success. 15 Darby McCarthy was a man for the changing times and he was the vanguard of the new politicized intellectual Aboriginal sporting star. Sadly, McCarthy himself would become another sporting tragedy, but his inspiring refusal to be whitewashed remains as a pivotal point in the new era of Aboriginal sporting participation.…”

Voices from the boundary line: the Australian Football League's Indigenous Team of the Century

“…The reason for this is because the struggle for Indigenous Australians has been a long and arduous one and one that has had very real consequences, even in football. 7 Perhaps the two most well-known examples are Nicky Winmar and Michael Long. For St Kilda's Winmar this came about in an away game in 1993 against AFL powerhouse Collingwood football club at Victoria Park in round four.…”

Enveloping the Past: Sport Stamps, Visuality and Museums

“…Nor does the exhibition acknowledge that Indigenous sportsmen have found other Australian sports -particularly Australian Rules football, boxing and rugby league -far more attractive, accommodating and inclusive than cricket. 45 Finally, women's participation has been far more chequered than indicated in the series of photographs of female participants in 'A Summer of Cricket'. While women played from the early 1870s, as indicated in the photographs displayed in the exhibition, for many years their involvement primarily centred on auxiliary functions (preparing refreshments for male players and as spectators, for instance), and their opportunities to participate have vacillated throughout the twentieth century.…”