Why racism never knocked Hannah Hollis ‘off course’

TV presenter Hannah Hollis has spoken about her upbringing, and how she dealt with racism as a proud Aboriginal teen. Hear audio about how it affected her.

TV sports presenter Hannah Hollis, whose great grandmother was part of the Stolen Generation, knows she is one of the lucky ones.

The 32-year-old grew up in a happy, sporty, household in Canberra, with her Indigenous mum, and her white father, as well as a brother.

Hollis enjoyed a childhood full of opportunities, attended a series of great schools, before going to university and getting her dream job in television.

She’s now a host and presenter on Foxtel, and a new mum to Olivia, one, with husband Tom Lee.

TV presenter Hannah Hollis. Picture: Richard Dobson

But she realises her life could not be more different from her great grandmother’s – or from many other Indigenous people in Australia today.

“I certainly recognise that I’ve had opportunities in my life to help me,” Hollis said, noting it was “tragic” that in a developed country such as Australia there is “such disparity in so many categories between our First Australians and the wider population”.

“I also think it’s been this way for so long,” Hollis said. “And that’s another layer of heartbreak.”

Hollis, who wanted to respect the privacy of her “mob” back in Darwin, said she has a “big family, a loving family”, and had seen firsthand how Indigenous people were suffering.

HEAR HANNAH HOLLIS TALK ABOUT HER FAMILY IN THIS AUDIO:

Hannah Hollis with her brother Alex.

As a young reporter she travelled around Australia visiting remote Indigenous communities and, at times, it was “confronting”.

For some, the trauma of the Stolen Generation has been passed down the family.

Hollis never met her great grandmother, who was taken from her family as a toddler and died before she was born.

But she has heard the stories of compound life. Conditions were primitive and the food meagre.

Her great grandmother was granted permission from the chief protection officer to get married at around 18 and was able to move on and live a successful life.

Hollis said her great grandmother’s mantra was, “Don’t dwell on what’s happened and keep moving forward”, which she has employed at times of difficulty in her own life, such as when she was bullied for being a proud Aboriginal at high school.

“What I will say about racism in Australia is that plenty of people have experienced it, and many people have experienced it far worse than I ever have,” Hollis said. “So while the words were hurtful, they never knocked me off course.”

Hannah Hollis and brother Alex.

Another huge influence on Hollis has been her “formidable” maternal grandmother who is still alive at the age of 85.

“I just love that she has outlived her life expectancy and she certainly has her health issues, but she is otherwise in wonderful spirits and surrounded by family,” Hollis said.

Statistically, her grandmother is remarkable.

Indigenous children born today still have a shorter life expectancy than other Australians.

The latest statistics reveal the life expectancy is 75.6 for Indigenous females, 7.8 years less than for non-Indigenous Australians.

For men it is 71.6 years, which is 8.6 years less than for other Australians.

Hollis believes her heritage has helped her in life, describing it as a tailwind, rather than a headwind, and a point of difference that separates her from other people.

But as a public figure, it “can be a heaviness to carry at certain times”, especially when she is asked to comment on topics such as racism.

“It can sometimes be tiresome being the only voice in the room, but I’d rather be the only voice then not have one at all, and not have any representative there,” Hollis said.

“So I’ve always embraced the fact that I can offer something different.”

A young Hannah Hollis with her family.

On one occasion, she was pressured by her community to stay working with an Indigenous organisation, instead of taking up a job opportunity. She said it was a mistake.

Later, when she got offered the Foxtel role, she took it.

“I remember feeling proud of myself for not letting the pressure of expectation and the heaviness that can come with being an Indigenous Australian influence my choices and decision making anymore,” Hollis said.

Nevertheless, she’s hopeful about the future for Indigenous people, including that of her daughter Olivia, who will grow up learning about her family’s heritage on both sides.

Hollis said Aboriginal people had made progress in sport, media, health and education, and she was an example of that.

She said real change would only happen if the whole community was engaged in it, and she had faith it would happen.

“I’ve seen the world change immensely in my limited laps around the sun,” Hollis said.

“And the future is really bright.

“And I think identity and what that looks like when my daughter is heading off to school and when she’s finding her way in the world will be vastly different to what it is today.”

Originally published as Why racism never knocked Hannah Hollis ‘off course’