The NFNL’s annual Sir Douglas Nicholls Round will be held this weekend, recognising and celebrating Indigenous players and culture.
The round coincides with NAIDOC Week, which celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history as well as the culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
NAIDOC Week is an opportunity for all Australians to learn about First Nations cultures and histories and participate in celebrations of the oldest, continuous living cultures on earth.
The NAIDOC 2022 theme is Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up!
We all must continue to Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up! Whether it’s seeking proper environmental, cultural and heritage protections, Constitutional change, a comprehensive process of truth-telling, working towards treaties or calling out racism, we must do it together.
It’s also time to celebrate the many who have driven and led change in our communities over generations, they have been the heroes and champions of change for equal rights and even basic human rights.
Sir Douglas Nicholls Round is named in honour of one of Australia’s most revered figures, he epitomised the spirit of reconciliation and was a brilliant athlete.
He was the first Aboriginal person to be knighted, served as Governor of South Australia and was devoted to the well-being of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Sir Douglas Nicholls was a talented footballer and was the first Aboriginal to represent Victoria at state level.
Sir Douglas Nicholls’ name remains prominent within the Northern Football Netball League community, with the Fitzroy Stars’ home ground named in his honour.
During Sir Douglas Nicholls Round, the Fitzroy Stars will host Thomastown for the NAIDOC Cup – an annual event between the two sides.
As part of this year’s Sir Douglas Nicholls Round, we will also be celebrating a major anniversary in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander political history as 2022 marks 30 years since the Mabo decision was handed down by the High Court in Australia.
The theme during the AFL’s Sir Douglas Nicholls round, it is important that we acknowledge the legacy of this decision and the efforts of Mer (Murray) Islander Eddie ‘Koiki’ Mabo.
The major consequence of Mabo’s efforts was to change the historical falsehood that Australia was in a state of Terra Nullius or land of no one and it is for this reason Sir Doug Nicholls round takes on great significance.
We invite you to watch the 2012 film ‘Mabo’ and reflect on the significance of this historic event.
Please be advised that the film may contain names, images or voices of deceased Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
