Jon Anderson uncovers why the Rioli family members are actually the Tipakalippa clan
WE know them as Cyril, Daniel, Dean, Maurice and Willie Rioli, a family that has brought more joy to our code than any other. But that isn’t their real name. JON ANDERSON uncovers how ‘Sister Rioli’ named a football dynasty.
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WE know them as Cyril, Daniel, Dean, Maurice and Willie Rioli, a family that has brought more joy to our code than any other over the past four decades.
But we should refer to them as the Tipakalippa clan, a family name that was taken from these remarkable footballers 80-odd years ago when their patriarch Cyril became part of the stolen generation.
It is a shameful period in Australia’s history when Cyril and so-called half-caste children were placed in Catholic missions and raised by nuns.
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Two of those nuns were Sister Rioli and Sister Vigona, Italian women who had been sent to outback Australia as part of their calling and who would become household names through the footballing deeds of players such as Maurice Rioli and South Fremantle’s Benny Vigona.
Cyril Rioli Snr eventually reverted to his family name in part, changing to Cyril Kalippa a decade before he died in 2016.
Sadly with him died the family’s only chance of finding out more about their heritage, Dean Rioli explained this week.
Rioli, 40, whose No. 43 is fondly remembered by Essendon fans for his 100 games between 1999-2006, admits to moments of sadness at not knowing anything more about his people, the Tipakalippas.
“My grandfather, Cyril Sr, grew up on the mission on Melville Island,” Dean said.
“Our original name was Tipakalippa but with the mission it was changed.
“The Italian nuns would give their names to the children of the stolen generation — same with Vigona and Stanislaus.
“So we don’t know our family history before Cyril went to the mission.
“I remember having a conversation with my dad saying it would be great to know our history, but dad was ‘no, no, no, don’t talk about that’.”
Dean said he did not know why his grandfather took back only half the family name, becoming Kalippa.
“I think if we grandkids had spoken to grandpa then he might have been open to discuss our family tree,” he said.
“But all those years have been wiped out.
“I suppose it’s been easier for commentators to pronounce Rioli.”
Dean said they remained a very close and supportive family.
“I was watching last Sunday when Willie kicked a goal for the Eagles and he held three fingers up on each hand which was to pay respect to Cyril as in his number 33,” he said.
“Some of us have had different journeys by leaving home to make our way.
“If there has been any doubt, which we all have had, it is explained to me that you are better off for us down there (southern states), doing us proud.”
Dean’s way of doing his family proud now is by working for GOAL, a Xavier Clarke-owned Melbourne-based business that specialises in indigenous work placement, mainly in the construction business.
But he had already done them proud years earlier during a playing career littered with extreme highlights.
He often seemed to be playing at a different level to the rest, with his natural gifts allowing him to overcome a body that didn’t always look as toned as the prototype for an AFL player.
“When I first met my Essendon coach in Kevin Sheedy he said he wanted me to leave the game with a house,” he said.
“I wasn’t aiming that high. All I wanted was a locker, but one with my name on it. I was an Essendon fanatic.
“I wore 43 which ‘Tippa’ (Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti) now wears. As a rookie they gave me a high number so there was no name on the 43 locker.
“When ‘Longy’ (Michael Long) retired, they offered me 13 and even though he was my idol, I wanted to get my name on 43, whereas on 13 there were others like Daisy Williams.
“Hopefully Tippa will become a 100 game player so a couple of Tiwi Islanders will both have their names on the locker.”
Dean Rioli grew up at Garden Point on Melville Island which has a community of about 400 people. The Tiwi Islands population is about 2000 people.
“From our 400 have come Ronnie Burns, Michael Long, Maurice, Cyril, Willie, Daniel and myself, plus Austin Wonaeamirri,” Dean said.
“I’m very proud of the family. It wasn’t until I left the Territory and walked into South Fremantle that I realised what a big deal it was to be a Rioli.
“I didn’t know how big the Maurice Rioli name was until I came to Essendon. I get called Maurice today because they know I’m a Rioli and Maurice is the one they know best.
“I mightn’t have stayed in Melbourne if it wasn’t for Michael Long and Che Cockatoo-Collins.
“I remained here for five years after I retired, trying to build my network for life after football. Then I went home to reconnect with the family for five years, before coming back 18 months ago.”
Mal Brown played against and coached Riolis during his time in Perth in the 1970s and ’80s and remains respected by the extended clan after first coming in contact as an opponent of Sebastian “Sibby” Rioli in 1972.
“I reckon Sibby had only played about six games for South when they picked him to play for Western Australia in the state side in 1972, that’s how talented he was,” recalled Brown.
“He was literally shaped like one of those beer kegs except with arms and legs plus an outboard motor because he was as fast as we had ever seen.
“A bloke called Dick Woodgate brought Sibby down from the Tiwi Islands and he played for five years before going home.
“Could he have played VFL? Of course, but you have to remember how hard it was for him.”
Brown said Maurice Rioli actually left Perth to go home, so he flew up to bring him back when he became coach of South Fremantle.
“Sibby and Maurice were coming from a lifestyle where you go fishing when you feel like it, or go hunting, or have a sleep. Suddenly you are in this big city where you have to work 9-5,” Brown said.
“I really admire what he achieved and you couldn’t hope to meet a better person, although that is standard for the Rioli family.
“A number of the brothers ended up playing in Perth along with Sibby and Maurice.
“John Rioli won the Jack Clarke medal as best player in the WAFL U18 colts competition, plus Laurence and Manny could play and Willie Sr who went to Hawthorn for a while.”
Dean Rioli believes there is plenty left to give from the family, excitedly nominating Maurice’s daughter Maria as a serious talent.
“Maria has got the lot, left and right foot, speed and goal sense,” he said.
“She is only 12 but a few months ago kicked seven goals in the under-15 competition in Darwin.
“She will be the first Rioli to play in the AFLW, either with Fremantle or Richmond.
“Then there is Daniel’s younger brother Brayden who has just signed with Essendon as part of their next generation academy.
“He’s aggressive, left-footed, fast and very exciting. And Maurice’s son, Maurice Jr, is following the same path as Cyril by going to Scotch College where he’s in Year 10.”
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