Summary

Dick Rowan, my great grandfather is pictured here with his football team mates. He was born in 1861. He was a great sportsman and footballer playing for Healesville and Badger Creek and he invented the screw kick in Aussie rules football. In 1892, at 31 years of age, South Melbourne wanted to recruit him however the Government at the time stopped him from playing as he was Aboriginal. Dick Rowan was also the first Aboriginal umpire in Victoria and umpired the Yarra Valley League in 1896. He captained the Lilydale cricket team when they played against Richmond. He rode racehorses and in 1893 he won 2nd prize in a boomerang throwing contest at Queens's Park, Healesville.

"These achievements are here to inspire the ones who follow". Bill Hunter, Taungurong March 2018

Physical Description

Black and white copy negative. Cellulose acetate.

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