NRL 2020 Indigenous Round, Megan Davis, ARL Commisioner's path from household dedates to political stand-offs

Megan Davis and Dean Widders at the 2020 NRL Indigenous Round launch.

Author: Tanisha Stanton NRL.com Reporter
Timestamp: Sun 20 Sep 2020, 09:00 AM

ARL Commissioner Megan Davis is a mad Cowboys and Maroons fan but there is so much more to this proud Cobble Cobble woman.

From her formative years, Megan's passion for reading and her thirst for knowledge set her on the path to becoming a constitutional lawyer and fighting for meaningful change for her people.

The remarkable journey of 'Megsy the know-it-all'

ARL Commissioner Megan Davis's father must have been able to see into the future when he described his daughter as "Megsy the know-it-all" during a childhood largely spent with her nose in a book.

A Professor of Law, the UNSW Sydney Pro Vice-Chancellor who is now helping lead the charge for the implementation of the Uluru Statement from the Heart, was setting herself for a life in the political sphere from an early age.

“I read every book – including the encyclopaedias – in the house, no matter the topic," Davis said.

"My dad said I was 'Megsy the know-it-all', and my Mum on the other hand always liked to challenge my thoughts and opinions."

Little did a young Megan know, her intellect and outspoken nature would serve her well when fronting a room full of politicians to fight for constitutional reform.

She was a middle child among five siblings. Her relationships with her brothers as the eldest sister played its hand in developing her personality.

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Truth-telling at forefront of Indigenous Round

"I was always making myself heard and insinuating myself into my brothers’ world as a girl," Davis said.

"I talked about and stood up for sexism and justice from a very young age, except it was mostly about playing games and cricket with my brothers."

This is also how Davis developed a life-long love of rugby league because this was how she connected with her brothers.

She would make peace during times of high sibling tension by talking about the scores in the latest games of the round.

While it now seems easy to have predicted the profession she was destined to reach, it was in high school that Davis decided the road her life would take.

Of all things, she said it was a US police drama that provided the spark. "I loved 'Law and Order' and I still do."

That early passion for justice didn’t stop there, with her love for reading steering her towards 'Matters for Judgement', the biography of Sir John Kerr, the Governor-General who sacked Prime Minister Gough Whitlam in 1975.

"It was something I was obsessed with," she said. "I learnt from that book the controversy that can arise in a constitutional order that has a written constitution and unwritten conventions. It was then that I knew I wanted to do law."

Born in Queensland, Davis is a proud Cobble Cobble woman.

Her family hail from Warra, near the Bunya Mountains in the state’s south-west, which was a spiritual meeting place and the central camp area of the Cobble Cobble people.

They were removed from Warra around the time of Federation and ended up in the Barambah reserve now known as Cherbourg.

Cherbourg is rugby league heartland and many of her family played rugby league on the reserve.

In 1940, her freshwater grandfather made the 340km hike up north to settle and set up their family on the salt water of the Batchalla, Hervey Bay.

Her grandfather (Fred Davis) and great uncle (Harry Davis) eventually moved from the Cherbourg reserve and bought land there, at Urangan, to raise their families and effectively escape the restrictions of the Protection Act – which gave power to government agencies to remove Aboriginal children from their families.

In Hervey Bay the Davis family were actively involved in the rugby league community, including the creation of the Pialba All Blacks rugby league team.

NRL Uluru Statement from the Heart

Davis dedicated 10 years to working and studying law at the University of Queensland, the United Nations in Geneva and the Australian National University, before finishing at the University of NSW, where she would become a constitutional lawyer, Professor of Law and UNSW’s Pro Vice-Chancellor Indigenous.

Those years of hard toil were driven by her family’s experience with how the law oppressed First Nations peoples.

Professor Davis was tired of witnessing the government's pursuit of symbolic gestures, so she took it upon herself to establish change.

"Australia is notorious for cherry-picking responses to wrongs against Indigenous Australians. The solution is always more symbolism, but never reparation or structural recognition," she said.

"In early 2015, I was one of the few leaders along with Pat Dodson, Noel Pearson and National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples co-chair Kirstie Parker, to meet with Prime Minister, Tony Abbott.

"We told him that the campaign ‘Recognise’ had caused a backlash from mob against constitutional recognition and we asked for a meeting with him and Bill Shorten."

On July 6, 2015, 40 Indigenous leaders from across the country gathered at Kirribilli House in Sydney to explain what constitutional reform looked like to them.

North Queensland's Indigenous Round jersey. The ‘Chosen One’ jersey design is the winner of the Cowboys annual Indigenous Jersey Design Competition, designed by artist William Chambers. In the Torres Strait and North Queensland Indigenous communities, the Sea Turtle is considered a delicacy. This painting represents the turtle’s journey from hatchling to fully grown adult. The smaller turtles are hatchlings on their journey from the shore to the open sea. The circles represent all obstacles and predators; not all become fully grown. The hunters with spears look for the chosen one which will become food. The fully grown turtle is also the chosen one as it gets its chance to reproduce and continue the cycle of life.

David Nofoaluma in the Wests Tigers' 2020 Indigenous Round jersey, named ‘Guwing & Yunada’ (meaning Sun & Moon in Dharawal language). Location on jersey: Front & Back Created: 6th September 2019 Meaning: This artwork exhibits emu and kangaroo living amongst each other, while the sun and moon are on the verge of switching positions at dusk. Artwork name: ‘River Flow’ Location on jersey: Sleeves Created: 5th August 2019 Meaning: This artwork symbolises life. Much like a river flow we are moving forward in our lives, and with moving forward we are all directed onto certain pathways. The blue water represents people flowing down the river in a forward motion whilst the brown, red and white represent guides putting people into the right direction

Cronulla's Indigenous Round jersey, designed by Alara Geebung (Cameron). Entitled “Coming Together”, the Sharks 2020 Indigenous Jersey has been designed with the intricate artwork a direct reconnection to the ways of “our old people”, it’s an illustration which also represents a oneness with mother nature and equanimity of mind. The night sky spirit animals represent and pay tribute to the players totems and the oneness between spirt and sky to land and sea. Through dreamtime stories, the nation’s first peoples, and widely respected by the wider community, as a symbol of Australia, the Southern Cross features as a connection between both cultures.

Blake Ferguson in the Eels' 2020 Indigenous Round jersey. The Eels will play the Bulldogs wearing specially designed jerseys by Aboriginal artist Danielle Mate Sullivan, with input from Eels player Will Smith. The artwork is called ‘Connection’ and represents the connection to the past and present. The large circle on the front of the jersey represents the meeting place for the players/warriors of the game, while the line to the top is a journey line to the players’ homelands.

There’s four hands on the back that represent Eels indigenous players Blake Ferguson and Will Smith’s children. The smaller circles are a nod to communities the Eels visit and work with. The past is represented by the warrior and the Parramatta River. The Burramattagal people, who are a clan of the Darug, have a connection to this river where they ﬁrst settled and caught ﬁsh, eels and other sources of food Colours from the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Flags feature on the sides of the jersey.

Scott Prince models the Broncos' 2020 Indigenous Round jersey designed by Elaine Chambers-Hegarty. The centre of the jersey is the meeting ground where people from north, south, east and west gather to unite their communities under the watch of their ancestors. Circles throughout the jersey represent communities in which the Broncos and Deadly Choices operate. Some are connected, and others are more remote. Wavy lines to the community areas show the rivers and waterways currently suffering through drought. Markings around show sections representing the people of the Torres Strait Islands.

Angus Crichton in the Roosters' 2020 Indigenous Round jersey. The Sydney Roosters ‘Club’ is depicted as the main circle in the top left-hand corner. There are journey lines branching out from the circle which represents the many community programs and events the Roosters are involved in. The outline of the Rooster logo is overlapping the circle and shows the strength and support of all areas of the Club. The Sydney Roosters logo is outlined in dot work to represent the ongoing Indigenous heritage of the players, staff and members of the Club. Below are the totems of the Indigenous players of the Sydney Roosters, including players from the Junior Squads to the NRL. The totems contain symbols that represent land, sea and sky. The footprints and surrounding area indicate the act of dancing and kicking up dust, which signifies the moving in the womb of Mother Earth. This act relates to the Roosters when they take to the field during Indigenous Round in 2020.

Gold Coast's Indigenous Round jersey. Connection with community, passion, support and togetherness are the key messages from the inspiring artwork “Healing” from Coffs Harbour artist Laura Pitt, that has been chosen as the design for the Gold Coast Titans 2020 Indigenous jersey. The blue circles in the middle with the symbols on the outside represent the Titans community, passion is represented through the coloured dots surrounding the players and supporters with links of the blue and ochre lines that merge together as one. The handprints and blue and white waterholes surrounding the area represent connection to the land. The blue and yellow healing leaves represent the resilience of the team that play together and heal together.

South Sydney's Indigenous Round jersey. For the 2020 NRL Indigenous Round, the Rabbitohs will be wearing culture on their sleeves, representing the proud legacy of the indigenous players who have worn the Jersey before them. In collaboration with our Indigenous players and artist Uncle Joe Walker, the Jersey design connects all the different communities, players and their stories to the Black Rabbit.

Adam Elliott models Canterbury's Indigenous Round jersey, designed by local Indigenous students from Bethlehem College, Ashfield. The design of this year’s Jersey features traditional artwork by the Students, symbolising the coming together of our community for Indigenous Round. Indigenous and Non-Indigenous players, Members of our community and the designers themselves are represented as Suns on the Jersey arranged around a meeting place – in this instance, our match against the Eels. Also included on the Jersey are totem animals of the local area and the Cooks River, which has long enabled many tribes to come together.

Manly's Indigenous Round jersey. The large blue circular design feature positioned in the bottom right corner of the jersey represents the Manly district and Brookvale, with its tentacles and tributaries reaching far beyond, embracing fans across the country. At the centre of the circle is a map of the Manly/Warringah/Pittwater districts. There are also seventeen lines, one for each of the warriors selected to represent the 2020 Manly Warringah Sea Eagles in the NRL each week. The carefully dotted lines also represent the journeys undertaken by Indigenous players, past and present, who have proudly represented the Manly club and their Peoples. At the end of each journey, the players communities and grass roots footy are depicted. It is, in essence, the starting point from where the Rugby League adventure begins for all First Nations players.

The Dragons' 2020 Indigenous Round jersey. The front of jersey design, entitled Dragons Community by Watson, showcases spiritual guides, the humpback and footprints of the kangaroo within the hunting boomerang and pays respect to the Dragons' playing group, their families, staff and supporters including the Dharawal-speaking people. The smaller community groups and pathways in grey represent the different backgrounds and journeys travelled by all players and supporters, showing that in the end they are all tied together by the strength of the Dragon’s jersey.

The lower back of jersey design, entitled Dharawal Country – Spirit of the Dragons by Binge, demonstrates a representation of two meeting places – Netstrata Jubilee Stadium and WIN Stadium – while the U-shaped symbols embody the traditional Bidjigal and Wadi Wadi custodians where the stadiums stands. The little people are a depiction of the youth while the two spirit figures watch over and guide them through life. Hands are a representation of the traditional custodians of the land while the circle symbolises community; the whale is the totemic animal of the Dharawal people, and the goanna represents the people of the mainland. These three symbols represent health, education and social issues.

Canberra's Indigenous Round jersey. Artist Lynnice Church, an Aboriginal woman from the Ngunnawal, Wiradjuri and Kamilaroi Tribes who previously held a position on the ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body, is credited with the jersey design which carries artwork associated with the region’s Reconciliation Public Holiday, which occurred on Monday 1 June 2020.

Penrith's Indigenous Round jersey, designed by Natasha Fordham. The front of the jersey features the meeting place of Panthers Stadium on Darug land, flanked by the Nepean River, local wildlife and the Blue Mountains The setting sun creates an eye-catching silhouette to acknowledge the traditional owners of the land the Panthers community calls home today Designed by Natasha Fordham in collaboration with Panthers Indigenous Welfare Officer Glen Liddiard and Panthers players Brent Naden, Daine Laurie and Brayden McGrady Totems recognising the club's Indigenous players in the NRL squad including Brent Naden (Wiradjuri - goanna), Brayden McGrady (Kamilaroi - snake) and Daine Laurie (Bundjalung / Yaegl - turtle) Fans will be able to bid for match-worn jerseys signed by the individual player directly after the game via shop.penrithpanthers.com.au

Melbourne's Indigenous Round jersey, designed by Ky-ya Nicholson Ward, a 17-year-old Wurundjeri, Dja Dja Wurrung, and Ngurai illum Wurrung woman. The jersey is called ‘Jindi Worobak’ which means ‘Join and Unite’ in Woiwurrung which is the language of my people, the Wurundjeri people, the traditional custodians of Narrm (Melbourne). This is my way as an artist to acknowledge the players, the workers, volunteers and fans that all join and unite to create the amazing Melbourne Storm community and environment. The centre circle on the jersey represents AAMI Park, and the white circles represent the staff, fans and crowd who come united as one to support the players. It represents how when we all come together as one, we are stronger. The joint circles flowing through the middle section of the jersey represent the Birrarung (Yarra River) which is a very significant and spiritual river to my people. ‘Birrarung’ means ‘river of mists’ in Woiwurrung, this is because the mist dances along the river at dawn which is linked to my people’s dreamtime/creation stories.

The Warriors' Indigenous Round jersey, designed by Dave Burke. Tāua Tahi is the Māori way of saying “That’s Us” - Indigenous populations share many cultural similarities around how we relate to our environments particularly land, water people and language. Tāua tahi the 2020 indigenous jersey acknowledges these similarities and shared realities on field and off field. It represents the players coming together and below is the next generation who are inspired by the coming together of our indigenous people and the change that can be created by understanding and respecting each other.

The Newcastle jersey was designed by local Aboriginal artist Tyler Smith with feedback from Knights players Connor Watson, Edrick Lee and Gehamat Shibasaki. In creating a deeper bond to the region and its people, Smith enlisted the assistance of four young Indigenous detainees through his art program at Frank Baxter Youth Justice Centre. The design of the jersey represents the local landscape of Newcastle, the wider region and also incorporates the handprints of the three players. Central to the design is the implementation of three totems representing the three players - Goanna (Watson), Turtle (Shibasaki) and Saltwater Crocodile (Lee).

The Kirribilli Statement issued after the meeting put a stake in the ground by removing minimalist reform and symbolism from the agenda, while the leaders recommended there be an ongoing dialogue between First Nations peoples and the government to negotiate the proposal to be put to referendum.

For Davis and Indigenous Australians, this was a win. A small step in the right direction.

A Referendum Council was formed and new Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull, made its establishment one of his priorities after toppling Tony Abbott in the 2015 leadership challenge.

The work of the council was to consult Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as to what form of constitutional recognition could be meaningful.

An Indigenous sub-committee of the Referendum Council was then formed for their first meeting in Sydney. There they would decide what the roll-out of a "dialogue" process would look like.

"We decided we must engage the cultural authority of the land and traditional owners, via land councils across the country," said Davis, who in 2018 won top honours for her work on public policy and constitutional reform in the Australian Financial Review/Qantas 100 Women of Influence Awards.

"We recognised that communities were suspicious of and sick of 'consultation' because it is done so loosely by bureaucrats.

"The word 'dialogue' and the process of dialogue was chosen as a more interactive way to engage participants, placing them and their views squarely at the centre of the discussion."

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Indigenous stars raise their voice

Davis designed the dialogues, tested the methodology at Melbourne University and travelled across the country to roll out 12 "First Nations Regional Dialogues", plus an information session held in Canberra.

"I felt tremendously proud at how strong, patient, clever, kind and generous all of our people were that I met at the dialogues," she said.

"The good faith in their involvement and the seriousness in which they applied themselves. Our mob were serious about change and that change being led by our people."

Two weeks after the last gathering on Thursday Island, the work of the dialogues was endorsed at the National Constitutional Convention, which was held at Yulara and Mutitjulu near Uluru in 2017.

The dialogue process was repeated with 250 delegates. This was where the Uluru Statement from the Heart was born.

Substantive constitutional change and structural reform, the establishment of a First Nations Voice enshrined in the Constitution, a Makarrata commission, to supervise agreement making, and truth-telling would make up the key elements of the Statement.

"It was like was nothing I had ever experienced before," Davis said. "It was a very nervous period. I was very anxious but.

"Aunty Pat (Patricia Anderson, co-chair of the Referendum Council) and I had a few meltdowns and strolls in the garden at Uluru.

"My fondest memory is finishing up writing the Statement with Noel Pearson late into the night, until 3am. Another one was reading the Uluru Statement to the conference room and the Statement being unanimously supported by the floor.

"It was the culmination of 20 years. I had worked very hard for this moment. Every book, every journal article and every speech and every minute away from my mum and my siblings."

Despite the fulfilment of a consensus among First Nations peoples and the Statement coming to life, Professor Davis and the Referendum Council still had to put it to those who implement the change.

This was when the first major roadblock was encountered. At the 2017 Garma Festival, Australia’s largest Indigenous cultural gathering, the Statement was presented to the country’s leaders but rejected shortly after.

Prime Minister Turnbull said an Indigenous body "would inevitably become seen as a third chamber of parliament".

Latrell Mitchell leads the Indigenous All Stars war dance in February. ©Scott Davis/NRL Photos

"Contemporary liberal democratic governance is particularly inept at reform and vision," Davis said.

"Politicians are happy with the status quo. The status quo delivers them power and they do not want to share that power with Indigenous peoples.

"Turnbull knew full well the voice was not a third chamber of parliament. He is a politician and he deliberately muddied the waters to avoid dealing with the substance."

She said despite the outcome she didn’t feel defeated. "I have low expectations of politicians. They are limited by party politics and party discipline.

"They are confined to the ritualism of set political pieces and few are courageous enough to rise above that."

There is a current process set up in which Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Ken Wyatt, is designing a voice to bureaucracy, meanwhile Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he would decide on a referendum after the voice design work was completed.

Fast forward three years and Davis remains as determined as ever, repeatedly challenging and knocking at the door of those in power.

The Voice work continues to resonate in her role on the Commission.

"Embedded into the ethos of the Commission and the NRL is to listen to the Voices of our stakeholders before acting. This helped the game through COVID and will continue to," she said.

"And on Indigenous matters, listening to our elite player group and the Australian Rugby League Indigenous Council means the board can make the right decisions fully informed by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community."

While she is continuing her work on the ground, having organised an Uluru Youth Summit at the end of 2019, where more than 60 First Nations emerging leaders gathered in Cairns for a four-day conference.

The trip provided the next generation with learnings and the history of the Uluru Statement, while they got the opportunity to make a trip to Yarrabah to pay their respects to the old Aboriginal campaigners.

"I felt such pride. They were clever, inquisitive and respectful," Davis said.

"I want them to get the confidence to step up to the plate and drive this reform home. I don’t want them campaigning in 20 years. I want them to be the 'Voice', and I can retire and watch them from afar."

Tanisha Stanton interviewed Megan Davis for a major assignment as part of her Media (Communications and Journalism) degree at UNSW.