Fire Carriers

Nicky Winmar  

Date of birth and place of birth 

Nicky was born on the 25 of September in 1965. He grew up on an Aboriginal reserve near the town of Pingelly in Western Australia and belonged to the Aboriginal tribe of Noongar. 

His younger years 

His family didn't have a lot of money. They lived in a shack made of iron sheets with no windows and a dirt floor. There was no running water or sewerage system. The reserve had a nightly curfew and discipline was harsh. Nicky left school by the age of 15 and worked as a shearer. At the age of 17 he made his debut for South Fremantle Football Club and by the age of 21 he started playing for St Kilda football club. 

Why is Nicky well known?

Nicky was experiencing racial abuse on and off the field from spectators, staff and other players for many years. Nicky Winmar is well known because took a stand against racial abuse. He stood defiantly in front of Collingwood spectators who had been yelling out racial abuse at him. He lifted up his jersey and pointed at his skin, shouting, “I'm black and I'm proud to be black.”

By the end of 1993 the AFL responded to Nicky’s stand and made sure they established a code of conduct about racism for players and teams. The AFL also started an education program called ‘Racism: The Game is Up’, and told their umpires to start reporting racial abuse. On 12 May 1995 the first case of on-field racial abuse was reported. 

Nicky Winmar's stand started an important national conversation on racism in sport. This led to the creation of Rule 30, which was the first time that racial abuse had been officially outlawed within an Australian sport.

   Nicky Winmar's achievements

• All-Australian: 1991, 1995.
• Herald Sun Player of the Year Award: 1995.
• Trevor Barker Award (St Kilda F.C. Best & Fairest): 1989, 1995.
• St Kilda F.C. Leading Goalkicker: 1988.
• Mark of the Year Award: 1992.
• Michael Tuck Medal: 1996.
• Aboriginal Sportsperson of the Year: 1999

Oliver 5/6SP