Nic Nat’s heartfelt tribute to mum in book about acceptance

West Coast Eagles star Nic Naitanui has paid tribute to his mum in a children’s book and credits her sacrifices as a single parent with helping him to get to where he is today.

West Coast Eagles star Nic Naitanui has paid tribute to his mother, Ateca, in a children’s book about accepting diversity and differences.

Naitanui penned the book, Little Nic’s Big Day, about school life, and his fears about looking different, and being accepted.

Those worries proved false, especially with Nic’s skills on the footy field, even back then.

Nic Naitanui with his book, ‘Little Nic’s Big Day’. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

“To try and fit in and make friends was a big challenge in my head,” Naitanui said. “My biggest saviour was being able to play this funny game called Aussie rules football.

“That got me through, they got me in with the cool crowd. Playing most sports came naturally. That was my way of integrating and feeling accepted.”

Naitanui said his late mother, who worked at a homeless shelter, and with at-risk kids, taught him valuable life lessons, morals and values. His book is dedicated to her.

Her work meant Nic saw that “not every kid had the best start, not every kid has breakfast in the morning, some kids have troubles at home … and not to judge a book by its cover.

He added: “Everyone’s different, everyone has their own journey and their own personal story. We should accept that”.

Ateca, a widow, raised Nic, and his three siblings on her own. But Nic didn’t recognise her struggle until later in life.

“As a kid you take it for granted and think, ‘Why, why, why? Why can’t I have a new bike like Johnny down the road?’

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“I’m very appreciative, look back and think it was a tough ask. I’m very fortunate to get to where I am because my mum sacrificed so much.”

Did she get to see his AFL success?

“She saw early parts,” Naitanui said. “She loved the Eagles and what it brought to not only myself, but my community back in Fiji, and (the Fijian community in) Australia. She was very proud.”

Little Nic’s Big Day is out now and published by Allen and Unwin.