NRL 2020: Steve Renouf tackles racism head on in wake of Indigenous Round, Black Lives Matter, Michael Holding

Renouf: We all must tackle racism - it exists, no one can deny it

Author: Steve Renouf Broncos legend
Timestamp: Fri 31 Jul 2020, 01:01 PM

The great West Indian fast bowler Michael Holding said recently he was looking forward to the day when black lives matter just as much as white lives.

I wish for the same future, but it will only come in Australia on the back of education, leadership and facing up to our true history.

I got approached by the NRL ahead of Indigenous Round to speak in a video about my own experiences with racism, as Holding did, and how we can move toward equality between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.

I said I’d be honoured because that issue needs to be addressed across the entire community.

I spoke about my own encounters with racist attitudes at the Broncos in the early years, and it was an emotional experience.

When I was talking about it I hoped people at the club didn’t think I was trying to make them look bad.

Laid bare: Renouf, racism and rugby league

It was a different era back then, but on the flip side of that there needs to be recognition of racism in Australia. It exists and no one can deny it.

I loved Holding’s calmness in speaking about his experiences with racism when he went to play cricket in England, not on the field but from the crowd when he fielded on the boundary. He was also forthright.

While speaking about the murder of George Floyd in the United States he said his attackers "did not care that it was another black man that they had killed".

Reclaiming history

The NRL has the "Pass Back. Move Forward." theme for Indigenous Round and that highlights why we need to understand Indigenous history and culture, along with the history of Australia, in order to have a bright future.

Australia was not settled peacefully. It was a takeover of Indigenous land.

NRL great and the founder of the Indigenous All Stars Preston Campbell.

Wiradjuri man and Storm winger Josh Addo-Carr.

Biripi man and Rabbitohs fullback Latrell Mitchell.

Bundjalung & Yuin man and Rabbitohs five-eighth Cody Walker.

Bundjalung & Yuin man Cody Walker with sons Kade and Kian.

Wiradjuri man and Sharks centre Jesse Ramien.

Ngiyaampa man and Sea Eagles forward Joel Thompson.

Preston Campbell, Ryan James and Rona Peters.

Yam & Badu Islands man and Rabbitohs winger Dane Gagai.

NRL referee Gavin Badger with son Cooper.

ARL commissioner Megan Davis and NRL Indigenous pathways manager Dean Widders.

Indigenous dancers at the 2018 Indigenous Round launch at Suncorp Stadium.

What happened on the frontier was a war even though there is a segment of people who won’t accept that.

They still think what the English thought back then, that Indigenous people are sub-human.

But there is a reason why Pemulwuy is one of our people’s most highly regarded freedom fighters and warriors, and why he was shot dead in 1802.

I haven’t got a tattoo but I once thought about getting one of Pemulwuy because he is a hero of mine.

A lot of people say "that happened back then" but I say "take yourself back there with someone who knows about our history and come on a journey forward, and then you might get an idea of why things are the way they are today".

If you brush what happened back then you won’t understand the inequality that exists now.

I admire guys like Latrell Mitchell and Timana Tahu because they have been leaders in standing up to racism.

If we say nothing and don’t call it out we will get no progress, but they are dignified in the way they go about it.

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).

Steps forward and back

We have taken steps forward and back. The Reconciliation Walk across the Sydney Harbour Bridge in 2000 and apology by former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to the Stolen Generations in 2008 were more than symbolic gestures.

The day of his speech I rang my children's school and said that they would be late because I wanted them to stay home and watch it.

Those moments were evidence of change, but unfortunately we have regressed since then.

The re-emergence of One Nation is a bad sign that racism is not only being tolerated but also embraced by a segment of society.

The attacks on Mitchell on social media also reflect a vocal section of society that holds racist views.

Watson’s ‘Boots for Brighter Futures’ charity an outlet for Indigenous youth

My mum and dad led the way

I was an Aboriginal boy going to a mostly white primary school in Murgon.

Next door was the Aboriginal community of Cherbourg and they came across to high school in Murgon. In a way we were on the fence between both cultures.

My dad Charlie was a wonderful example to me of leadership and standing up for his people.

He was known as the "barefoot lawyer" in town because he was a legal aid officer and set up the first Aboriginal housing commission in the South Burnett and the first Aboriginal legal service.

He was the liaison between any Aboriginal people getting arrested and the police, until Monday court when the legal aid solicitors would come from Brisbane.

Two of them were former Queensland Premier Wayne Goss and Terry O’Gorman, the president of the Australian Council of Civil Liberties. They would have morning tea at our place while waiting to go to court.

Dad always spoke up and acted when it came to racism and inequality. At the time Joh Bjelke-Petersen was the Queensland Premier and our local MP.

My dad would say Joh was an out-and-out racist and he would talk about Aboriginal deaths in custody and how our people were getting belted up in the local jail, and across the state.

Charlie and Nerida Renouf. ©Steve Renouf

I still remember when Bjelke-Petersen got sick and my dad said "I actually feel sorry for the old fella", so that was the type of man he was. Yes, he stuck up for his people and had no time for Joh but still had compassion for him when he was on his death bed.

Dad would have his say but our family are not aggressors. We don’t openly look for conflict but he was very much a leader, not just for us as a family, but also the Indigenous community of Cherbourg and Murgon.

Holding's situation growing up was similar to mine. I don’t remember encountering racism much as a kid.

Australia was not settled peacefully. It was a takeover of Indigenous land.

My mum Nerida was like the mother hen with 12 kids and a strong lady. She was there solely for us and shielded us from a lot of things.

When we would come home and complain to Mum, she would say "ignore them, they are talking rubbish", so we’d just brush it off.

She taught us about the need to resilient and dignified at the same time. It is a great lesson.

Bennett and my own journey

I had a chat to Wayne Bennett by phone when I was halfway through my career at Wigan.

I hadn’t been across Aboriginal issues too much at that stage, but I remember him saying to me "you will find your niche Steve and be a great Aboriginal leader".

I didn’t really see it at the time, but with the work I do now with Deadly Choices we are leading in that health space.

It is not just about the immediate health of Aboriginal people, it is around prevention so that our young people won’t have the problems our elderly do now.

It has been generational and passed down through history with sugar, alcohol and tobacco.

The inequality for Indigenous people occurs in two areas I have worked in the past decade – health and employment. I did a body of work for a company called Aurizon at employing Indigenous people and they backed me.

Health and education are the two areas that non-Indigenous people take as a fait accompli but it is not the same for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

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Indigenous stars raise their voice

A lot to celebrate

There is a lot of good history too and it is important to celebrate that. A lot of that revolves around sport. Frank Fisher was an Aboriginal trailblazer from Cherbourg. They now call him the "black Wally Lewis".

Lionel Morgan was the first Indigenous rugby league player to represent Australia. I first met Uncle Lionel in the early 1990s when I was playing Origin and I still have a photo of us in a scrapbook.

Arthur Beetson was a proud Indigenous man and is a rugby league Immortal.

I listen to Wally Lewis and Gene Miles speak about him and it gives me goose bumps. Wally will always be "The King" but they both speak about Arthur as though he was God.

The views in this article do not necessarily express the opinions of the NRL, ARL Commission, NRL clubs or state associations.