Black Gold

Overview

Featuring all 172 members of the Aboriginal and Islander Sports Hall of Fame, from 30 different sports, this reference showcases the Olympic heroes, superb sportswomen, football giants, boxing legends, lightning-quick sprinters, and more—from darts champions to world-class weightlifters and woodchoppers. Some of the athletes mentioned are members of the Stolen Generations; many grew up in remote, impoverished settlements where “sports facilities” were bumpy dirt tracks, scrubby pitches, or dustbowl ovals with sticks for goalposts: this book honors all who have leapt the twin hurdles of racism and competition to realize their talents in the elite arenas of national or international sport.

Reviews

"Colin and Paul's Black Gold is the most comprehensive published collection yet of past, present and future Aboriginal sporting achievement. The range of sports that Indigenous Australians have excelled in continues to surprise and delight me, so I know that in the wider Australian community, this fact will still be a complete revelation. I travel the country to find and encourage young Aboriginal sporting talent and can really appreciate how much this book will inspire them. Moreover, I can see the day, when all Indigenous youngsters have an equal and level start with other young Australians that 'Black Platinum' will be published ... it will need to be five times as big. Evonne Goolagong-Cawley AO, MBE, tennis pro The skill, enthusiasm and excitement Indigenous Australians bring to sport is enthralling and should not be underestimated. Black Gold expertly demonstrates the enormity of the challenge that confronted Indigenous sportspeople throughout Australia's clouded history. I sincerely thank Colin and Paul Tatz for recognising the sporting prowess of the South Sea Island people in this book, a heritage I am very proud of."  —Mal Meninga AM, football pro

Author Biography

Colin Tatz is the founder and director of the Centre for Australian Indigenous Studies at Monash University and the Centre for Comparative Genocide Studies at Macquarie University. He has spent 45 years researching and teaching Aboriginal affairs, specifically in the areas of history, politics, administration, education, economics, law, health, and sport.