Turvey taking the lead on Indigenous recognition

Sometimes it’s the simplest expressions that carry the

greatest weight:

“Acknowledging Indigenous players both past and

present of the Turvey Park Football & Netball Club.”

Fifteen words on the back of a footy jumper. But they

stand for so many more… Respect. Recognition.

Identity. Belonging. Community. Culture. Footy Clubs.

Family.

Turvey Park is creating history with its celebration of

the AFL’s Indigenous Round, becoming the first club in

the RFL or FFL to mark the occasion with a speciallydesigned

jumper… incorporating the club’s traditional

emblem and colours in an Aboriginal art design that

illustrates the river, and the connections between

Riverina clubs.

Before the game, there’s a ceremony including the

raising of the Aboriginal flag, and local elder Aunty Dot

Whyman delivering a Message Stick to the club and a

Welcome to Country in Wiradjuri language.

If you want to know how much it means, ask Uncle

Jimmy Egan, arguably the club’s best ever Indigenous

footballer: “Oh mate, I feel that happy. I’m so proud,” he

says. “Never, ever thought I’d see that in my life. I was

pretty excited about it when they rang me and let me

know. I’m looking forward to coming up for it. I hope to

see a lot of old mates there too. I’m excited.”

Egan played for the Bulldogs from 1969-1975 and

again in 1977 (although regrettably missed the grand

final victory over Ariah Park-Mirrool, after doing his

Achilles on the Wednesday before the decider).

His was a different era, and those were less enlightened

times. Indigenous players were regularly subjected to

racist abuse.

“I had the same problem. ‘You black – whatever,’ they’d

say. I think it’s come a long way since then,” Egan says.

In those days, there were few courses of action to take.

“I didn’t worry too much. I’d swear back at them.”

What mattered was that within his club, Egan was

respected. “With Turvey, it was like a family club. It was

really good. All the people, I just got on terrific with

them. The white people, everyone. Wagga’s a big place,

but I knew a lot of people.”

Club stalwart, and reserve grade co-coach Stephen

Smith, has been the driving force behind the celebrations,

proud of the contributions of Indigenous footballers

and proud too of his club’s culture.

“I think the thing is there’s never been any sort of divide

between non-Indigenous players and Indigenous

players. It’s always been one club. We’ve never had any

problems,” Smith says. “And because it [race] has never

been an issue, it’s not really talked about. So this helps

the education side of things – for non-Indigenous guys

to realise there is a true culture there to be identified

and recognised.”

Turvey’s assistant coach James Hayes is new to Riverina

football. He’s played in Indigenous round matches elsewhere

and knows their value. “Even for non-Indigenous

players, it opens their eyes to see how much it means

to us, and how important it is. Especially in an area

like Wagga… the league medallist the last two years is

Indigenous, so that goes to show the talent here.”

That’s two-time Quinn medallist Chris Gordon (CAK),

whose on-field exploits are extremely valuable in

showing kids that race is no barrier to achievement.

Gordon is rapt that Indigenous recognition continues

to grow, and thanks the current Australian of the Year

for inspiration. “Adam Goodes – he’s done a lot. If

there’s any way I could do just a small amount of what

he’s done to help people in the community, I’ll be

happy with my life.”

The Bulldogs are thinking beyond the boundary of

Maher Oval too. “For us, it’s not all about Turvey Park.

It’s acknowledging Indigenous footballers around the

Riverina,” says Smith. “The perfect outcome would be

that – maybe not next year, maybe not the year after,

but maybe one year –every single club in the Riverina

plays in Indigenous jumpers and acknowledges the

round.”

In the meantime, Turvey Park will continue to lead by

example… wearing its heart on its sleeveless , guernsey.

“It’s not a new thing,” says Smith. “Indigenous

round is about recognition of history. It’s about acceptance,

and respect.”

Respect for each other. And respect for yourself.

Like Uncle Jimmy Egan. Forty years on, and living in

Balranald, his heart remains at Turvey Park – broken

only by the memories of grand finals lost, never by the

scourge of racism.

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