Shaun Burgoyne headlines The Advertiser’s new ‘Black Australia’ podcast discussing indigenous people, culture and issues
Four-time premiership star and AFL indigenous games record holder Shaun Burgoyne gives a fascinating talk on indigenous people, culture and issues in The Advertiser’s new ‘Black Australia’ podcast. LISTEN NOW.
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AFL indigenous games record holder Shaun Burgoyne today headlines The Advertiser’s new podcast ‘Black Australia’, which discusses Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, culture and issues.
Hosted by The Advertiser sports writer Reece Homfray and Paul Vandenbergh – a proud Wirangu man and director of Port Adelaide’s AFL Aboriginal programs – the new series unites black and white Australia to answer key questions and find a pathway forward together.
Vandenbergh, who was born in the remote WA community of Warburton, raised in Ceduna on SA’s west coast and is now living, working and raising a family in Adelaide, asks himself that very question every day.
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“As Aboriginal people today we are always trying to look for a platform that opens us up with non-Aboriginal people in having those conversations, getting used to each other and understanding each other,” Vandenbergh said.
“It’s as simple as having the conversation and that’s been a problem, a lot of assumptions have been made over the years and if we have the conversation I think it will break down so many more barriers between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people and that’s what Australia should always be about – how do we do this together and walk side-by-side into the future?”
You can listen to Episode 1 of the podcast with Shaun Burgoyne here and subscribe on Acast and iTunes:
In Episode 1 of Black Australia, Burgoyne – who is about to embark on his 20th AFL season – discusses his connection to culture, the meaning behind his tattoos and why he has three guernseys framed on his wall at home.
He also details the indigenous player meeting on the night before the 2004 AFL grand final, the progress in the fight against racism in football, coming up against his nephew Trent at Port Adelaide this year and what he will be most proud of when he retires.
The podcast series also shares the story of beach volleyballer Taliqua Clancy – whose mum was just 17 when she was born and rose from country Queensland to the Olympic Games in Rio – as well as those of non-Aboriginal people like marathon great Robert de Castella who takes 12 runners to New York as part of the indigenous Marathon Foundation (IMF) every year.
De Castella said he was inspired to start the IMF after witnessing the plight of some indigenous communities while visiting remote parts of the country.
“It’s an opportunity for us to showcase amazing young indigenous men and women to the whole country – to white Australia and black Australia,” he said.
“We are trying to absolutely smash this negative stereotype that indigenous people can’t do amazing things and I sometimes get a bit frustrated with all the focus on ‘Closing The Gap’ and the negative and dysfunction because I feel that perpetuates and normalises that stereotype.
“Through that I want to find a way to get the whole country to embrace our indigenous culture as a national treasure, as something we see as part of our identity and we are incredibly proud of, and we’ll never do that while there is a negative stereotype existing.
“So, it’s really important for us to find ways to celebrate indigenous achievement and showcase indigenous culture as a treasure.”
Vandenbergh said that was “music to my ears”.
“That has been our fight, it’s about ‘how do we do this together’ and ‘why aren’t we celebrating Aboriginal culture together?’,” he said.
“And this is what our goal has been with the podcast, (discussing) how do we bring people on a journey, block out the negative views about who we are as people and elevate the positive things about our people and our culture.”
Other guests in season one include marathon man and artist Shane Cook, former Test cricketer Jason Gillespie, Adelaide Crows Wayne Milera and Jeremy Johncock, and trailblazer Tanya Hosch.
reece.homfray@news.com.au
Originally published as Shaun Burgoyne headlines The Advertiser’s new ‘Black Australia’ podcast discussing indigenous people, culture and issues