FIRE Carriers
Our Lady of the Assumption Primary School
Wominjeka OLA
It’s Bella here, one of your FIRE Carriers. Today I will be sharing with you two of my passions which include educating our community on Indigenous culture and basketball. As the FIBA World Cup comes to an end for 2023, I am sure our national hero and NBA champion Patty Mills needs no introduction.
Patty Mills is a proud Muralag man from the Torres Strait born on the 11th August, 1988. Patty is an Indigenous professional basketball player, who plays for the NBA, representing Australia in the Boomers and the Atlanta Hawks. Patty is the first indigenous player to represent Australian Men’s basketball in four consecutive Olympic Games and holds the record for being the highest point scorer at the London Olympic Games in 2012. Another memorable moment is when Patty created history as the first Indigenous Australian to be the flag bearer at the Tokyo Games.
Patty is most passionate about striving to promote Indigenous culture in Australia and has been quoted saying “It’s who I am. It’s what I know - even more than basketball”. In 2021, Patty Mills and Indigenous Basketball Australia launched a pathway which provides development programs for young First Nations basketballers. Patty also founded the Team Mills Foundation that provides opportunities to communities not able to access them. In 2022, Patty was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for his contribution to basketball, charitable initiatives and the Indigenous community which is amazing recognition.
Finally, Patty Mills also has a collection of children’s books, “Patty Hits The Court: Game Day!” which I highly recommend for children aged 6 and above!
Wela’lin, Bella
https://www.nma.gov.au/exhibitions/2022-australian-of-the-year/patty-mills
https://australianoftheyear.org.au/recipients/patrick-mills
https://quotecatalog.com/communicator/patty-mills
https://www.naidoc.org.au/awards/winner-profiles/patrick-mills