AFL legend Nicky Winmar has been joined by hundreds of people at a healing ceremony at Collingwood’s spiritual home 30 years after the team’s fans hurled racial insults his way.
On April 17, 1993, St Kilda’s Nicky Winmar had enough of racist abuse from Collingwood supporters.
He lifted his guernsey, pointed to his skin and said “I am Black and I’m proud to be Black”.
The moment was immortalised in a photo captured by Wayne Ludbey, that has become iconic in the fight against racism by Aboriginal sportspeople.
To pay homage to Winmar’s public stance on racism in Australian sport, a public healing ceremony called Ngarra Jarra Noun took place on Tuesday night at Collingwood’s former headquarters at Victoria Park.
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Hundreds turned out at the ceremony organised by Nathan Lovett-Murray and Jason Timiru as an opportunity for the public who have experienced racism to heal through the traditional ceremony.
“It’s good, the smoking ceremony will give people an opportunity to forgive for what’s been done,” Winmar told AAP before the ceremony.
Current and former AFL players took part, along with the wider public as they reflected on their own attitudes towards Indigenous Australians.
It featured performances by Kutcha Edwards, and traditional dance groups Djirri Djirri, Murrundaya Yepenga Dance Troupes, The Fighting Gunditjmara, Koori Youth Will Shake Spear, Wulumbarra,.
Traditional Aboriginal games were also played at the event.
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Before the Gather Round in Adelaide over the weekend, the Collingwood Football Club officially apologised to Winmar and teammate Gilbert McAdam for the racial abuse by Magpies fans on that day.
Winmar’s gesture of proud defiance has served as a touchstone of strength for other Indigenous sportspeople when they’ve been similarly racially abused.
Former Adelaide Crows player Eddie Betts, Swans player Adam Goodes during the 2013 AFL Indigenous Round, Josh Addo-Carr at the 2022 NRL Indigenous All Stars Round and recently Western Bulldogs player Jamarra Ugle-Hagan have all called out racial abuse.
Winmar has urged the AFL to do more about combating racism, including enforcing life-bans and more education around the grounds.
“I’ll never stop fighting racism,” he said.
-AAP
