© ATOM 2012 A STUDY GUIDE BY MArguerite o’HARA http://www.metromagazine.com.au ISBN: 978-1-74295-200-0 http://www.theeducationshop.com.au ‘I don’t feel like I am just fighting for myself. I’m fighting for a bigger cause than just me. I think about winning, because when I win, we all win.’ Anthony Mundine Aaron Pedersen This is a program that showcases six Indigenous Australians who have had an enormous impact in a number of sporting codes. Some like Anthony Mundine and Nova Peris may be well-known while others such as Kyah Simon and Des Abbott may not be so familiar. They all have stories to tell of their lives and work as we watch them in action – sporting superstars. But the program also includes information about their off-field lives and backgrounds and we hear each one talk about NOTE TO TEACHERS challenges, achievements and continuing work as mentors, role-models This program is preceded with the following and inspirational leaders in the Australian community. All are committed disclaimer that: ‘Aboriginal to making a difference to perceptions and expectations of Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander people are advised that this Australians. video might contain images of deceased persons’. Whilst Who We Are – In Sport uses the theme of sport to focus on For students unfamiliar with this notice, teachers SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2012 © ATOM SCREEN EDUCATION the stories of six Indigenous Australians, the documentary is not just could point out that for about sport. Who We Are – In Sport is also about how sport works as many Indigenous people and communities it can be a catalyst for social change and has enabled people to overcome social distressful to view and can be considered offensive to and political barriers in Australia. It is a story about people who, at the depict persons who have elite level in their respective fields, manage the pressures of fame, social died. This program does contain images of people expectations and the legacy they will leave behind. who have died. 2 Synopsis Olympic gold medallist, world As several of the participants in this program champion, captain of Australia, a acknowledge, we hear and see a great deal in the Australian media about Indigenous disadvantage competitor who revolutionised his in health, education, housing and employment. sport, an athlete who achieved firsts Negative stereotypes abound, and while it is true at Olympic and Commonwealth that many Indigenous Australians do suffer disad- Games – they are champions, sports vantage, we rarely see inspirational stories about the stars, Indigenous Australians. In Who endeavours of Indigenous Australians who are much We Are – In Sport Nova Peris, Mark more than sporting stars; they are also role models and community leaders. This documentary is not Ella, Kyah Simon, Des Abbott, Phil Aaron Pedersen just about sport. It is also about how sport works as Krakouer and Anthony Mundine talk a catalyst for social change and has enabled people about their experiences, achievements to overcome social and political barriers in Australia. and challenges on the track, in the ring, This very enjoyable program goes some way to redressing an imbalance of perceptions. on the sports field – and in life. The film Hosted by Aaron Pedersen and richly runs for Background illustrated with contemporary and approximately archive material of these and other 48 minutes. Indigenous Australians—Aboriginal and Torres Indigenous athletes in competition, Strait Islanders make up 2.3% of the total Australian population, according to the 2006 Who We Are – In Sport offers a rich and Census data. However, they are significantly stimulating insight into the lives of over-represented in several sports, particularly some of our greatest champions. in Australian Rules Football (AFL) where they make up 11 % of AFL lists. In 2011 there were 78 Indigenous players on AFL team lists. The fig- Curriculum Relevance Indigenous ures are similar in Rugby League although fewer Australians are Indigenous Australians have played Rugby Union Who We Are – In Sport would be an excellent pro- — in fact only 11 have played for the Wallabies. gram to show to secondary students at all levels significantly in a number of curriculum areas. These include over-represented Many Indigenous Australians have excelled in a Health and Physical Education, English, Personal in several sports, number of other sports at elite levels, such as Development, Indigenous Studies and Values particularly in Lionel Rose and Anthony Mundine in boxing, Education. Australian Rules Cathy Freeman, Nova Peris, Kyle Vander-Kuyp Football (AFL) and Patrick Johnson in athletics and Yvonne The ‘draft shaping document’ on Health and Goolagong Cawley in tennis. Physical Education for the new National Curriculum where they make was published in March, 20121. The Introduction to up 11 % of AFL Despite the overseas success of an Aboriginal this document notes that: H & PE addresses how lists. Cricket team in the 1860s, Indigenous Australians factors such as gender, sexuality, culture, ethnicity, are under-represented in this sport at a national level socio-economic status, environments and geo- with only three having played at the national level. graphical locations influence the health, well-being and physical activity patterns of individuals, groups After watching this program, students might like to and communities. In turn, it provides opportunities discuss why Aboriginal Australians are so unevenly for students to develop the skills, self efficacy and represented in sports and why they are so spec- dispositions to advocate for their own and others tacularly successful in certain sports such as AFL well-being, thereby making a positive contribution and NFL football. to the future for all. Aaron Pedersen, an Australian actor and an ac- The proposed curriculum also emphasises the need knowledged ‘sporting tragic’ narrates the program for intercultural understandings between the many and conducts interviews (which are really more like diverse groups and cultural backgrounds that make chats), with all six of the athletes featured. He is up the broad spectrum of Australian society. one of Australia’s best known actors, performing on 2012 © ATOM SCREEN EDUCATION stage, on the small screen and in many feature films. Clearly, active and regular participation in physical activity has many benefits for everyone, whether For junior secondary students Activity 1 may be they are aiming to compete at the highest level enough to engage them with the stories told in this in their chosen field of sport or for health, fitness film, while middle and senior students may like to recreation, social and personal satisfaction. The tackle some of the more complex issues raised individuals whose sporting journeys we follow in in the later activities in this guide about sport and this film tick all the boxes in the Introduction to H & Aboriginality. PE, described in the draft document. 3 WHO WE ARE – In SporT A Bearcage documentary for Foxtel’s Bio Channel AARON PEDERSEN Host MICHAEL TEAR Executive Producer ALLAN COLLINS Director and Co-Writer HARRIET PIKE Producer CHRIS BAMFORD Editor MICHAEL COVE Co-writer MURRAY LUI Student Activity 1 Student Activity 2 Director of Photography The Six stars – their stories What do you need to succeed? DAVID TRANTER Location Audio To succeed in many sporting fields you need cer- In the order in which they speak in the program tain qualities which include determination, perse- they are: verance and passion. But there are other factors - Phil Krakouer that help people achieve their dream to be the best - Mark Ella they can in their chosen sport. - Kyah Simon - Anthony Mundine Thinking about what we see in this film about six - Des Abbott very successful sportspeople, respond to the fol- - Nova Peris lowing questions in small groups. • Attach a main sport or sports to each individual from this list, first from your own knowledge, Body Type/physique then as a class group. Are they involved in— 1 - Hockey We are not all born to run or kick or hit a - Soccer ball or swim fast and some people seem to have - AFL football more natural and innate skills in certain sporting - Rugby League football areas than others. While in some sports, body - Rugby Union shape and size is not necessarily an issue, e.g. in - Tennis tennis, track and field, netball, swimming, volley- - Cricket ball, cricket, baseball, golf and table tennis, there - Boxing are successful athletes of many different shapes - Track and Field and sizes. However, increasingly, fitness, stamina and speed are all important attributes for people 2012 © ATOM SCREEN EDUCATION Choose one of the six people and use the following wanting to achieve success in many sports. Many set of prompts to build a profile of that individual professional athletes are now often taller and as you watch the film. Not all areas listed will be stronger than average. addressed in the program by all the participants. See Table 1 overleaf. • To be successful in some sports you need to have certain physical characteristics. For After watching the film and completing your notes, instance, what are they in the following sports? you could share your responses and discuss com- - Men’s and Women’s Basketball Above: Kyah Simon mon experiences for these athletes. - Rugby football and Aaron Pedersen 4 TaBLE 1 Chosen sport or sports Family structure and birthplace Introduction to sport Education Big break into sport Age when first represented Australia Years when played sport at top level National representation Important awards and recognition Particular challenges Any racism felt Life after retirement Major goals 2012 © ATOM SCREEN EDUCATION Family support Surprising information 5 3 Starting early Many professional athletes start their specialised training early in life, often with parental or sibling support. Others just have a childhood of playing outdoors, kicking a football or running or hitting a ball against a wall.