Ladies and Gentlemen,
Today’s match is one we are looking forward to. Historically, Geelong has been a formidable opponent and I’m sure today will be no different. Welcome to Geelong President Colin Carter and his wife Angie, Vice President Bob Gartland and his wife Phillipa, and all of their guests.
Round 10 is the AFL community ‘Sir Doug Nicholls Indigenous Round’.
I would like to publicly acknowledge the indigenous players on both club’s list. From Geelong - Zachary Bates, Nakia Cockatoo and Steven Motlop, and from Carlton – Andrew Walker, Liam Jones and Clem Smith.
I would also like to welcome here today –
• 2 time premiership player,
• Carlton Hall of Fame inductee, and
• member of the Indigenous Team of the Century – Syd Jackson.
Syd is a man who has made a significant contribution to Aboriginal life as an influential community role model.
I am delighted to announce that Syd is being inducted into Carlton’s Ring of Honour today and will ring the bell to start the match.
In today’s round of football, we are honouring a man who was well ahead of his time, a great leader who pioneered reconciliation between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and other Australians.
I’m of course referring to the late, Pastor Sir Doug Nicholls.
And I am delighted to welcome his daughter - Aunty Pam Pederson, and other members of Sir Doug’s family with us here today.
Aunty Pam, together with Syd Jackson, are members of our RAP Advisory Group.
This group provides strategic advice, guidance and support on Indigenous affairs and actively encourages the participation of Indigenous Australians in our game and at our Club.
Sir Doug was a prominent Aboriginal Australian from the Yorta Yorta people.
Geelong President Colin Carter, Josh Frydenberg MP, Pam Pederson, Syd Jackson and Carlton President Mark LoGiudice. (Photo: Supplied)
He was a formidable footballer known for his speed and incredible talent – HE LOVED THE GAME.
In 1932 he joined the Fitzroy Football Club and and later represented the VFL as a state player -the first ever Aboriginal player to do so.
He went on to play 53 games with Fitzroy from 1932 to 1937.
Beyond the game of football, Sir Doug was
• a man of faith with deep pride in his heritage,
• he was voted Victorian Father of the Year in 1962 for his outstanding leadership in youth and welfare work
• he became the first Aboriginal person to be knighted by the Queen, and
• was appointed the 28th Governor of South Australia, the first Aboriginal person appointed to vice-regal office.
To date, no other Australian footballer has achieved these outstanding civic honours.
Before joining Fitzroy, Sir Doug was in fact recruited to play for our club, and unfortunately due to certain individuals’ behaviour at that time, Sir Doug was simply not given the same opportunities as other players.
He was excluded and isolated due to his colour.
Recently, our Club held a special ceremony in the presence of Sir Doug’s extended family, to acknowledge 'the wrongs of the past’.
In acknowledging the treatment of Sir Doug, we can now focus on building a better, more inclusive future for everyone.
We will continue to strengthen and build genuine relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
In honour of today’s Indigenous round our players will wear a guernsey designed by Mandy Nicholson to honour Sir Doug, depicting the Murray and Yarra rivers as a symbol of unity, with the small dots along the edge representing Sir Doug’s life journey and that of the Yorta Yorta people.
On the back is depicted the long neck turtle, the totem of the Yorta Yorta people.
Today we celebrate indigenous culture and honour the legacy of Sir Doug, and celebrate the Indigenous players from both teams.
Ladies and gentlemen, it is a truly historic day. Enjoy the game and GO BLUES!
