by Satish Sekar © Satish Sekar (July 8^th 2010)[1]

Editor’s Note

The issue of racism in sport remains pertinent. We have covered this and other issues for several years. The story of Aboriginal cricket is important and still relevant especially with the 74^th Ashes series looming.

The Editor

Acknowledged Heritage

Over a century and quarter after Charles Samuels was born the Kamiloroi people of Queensland and New South Wales claimed a special place in Australia’s sporting history. To date only one four acknowledged Aboriginal cricketers – two men and two women – have played for Australia. Jason Gillespie was the first to acknowledge his Aboriginal heritage. Faith Thomas and Ashleigh Gardner were the first Aboriginal women to play Test Matches for Australia’s women. Scott Boland has joined Gillespie for the men’s team.

The former Australian fast bowler, Gillespie, has a few claims to fame. He played 71 Tests for his country. He is the only night-watchman to score a double century – 201 not out – made despite averaging under 19 with the bat. That was his only century in Test cricket. He took a wicket in his first over in that match against Bangladesh in 1996 on his way to 3 for 11 from 5 overs, which included the last of his 259 Test victims.

Incredibly, that performance came in the last Test Match that Gillespie ever played for Australia. He retired from all first-class cricket in 2008, but has other important claims to fame. He was the first acknowledged Aboriginal to play cricket for Australia.

Forgotten Inspiration and Heritage

Gillespie’s Aboriginal heritage is celebrated in Australia – rightly so – but he is not the first Kamiloroi origin sportsman to excel. Charles Samuels has that honour, but his story is largely forgotten, even though his athletic prowess inspired Jack Marsh to take up running.

Samuels grew up around the nearby Bunyinni people. His athletic talent was soon discovered. Despite losing a big race in 1885 he returned the following year to begin a period of domination. He set records galore and was acclaimed Australian champion at distances up to 300 yards. He set times that defy belief.

However, timings were not reliable when Samuels ran, which is why his reported 9.1 seconds for the 100 yards has never been accepted as a world or national record. He was a natural athlete – his build was perfect for it – and frequently broke ten seconds reportedly. He also beat the great English sprinter Harry Hutchens, the acknowledged English champion in three races out of four.

Decline

By 1892 athletics was in decline in Australia. Samuels was forced to run handicap races and race-fixing followed. Nevertheless, he remained popular. Trainers exploited his athletic prowess, enriching themselves at his expense and his once gentle disposition waned. He reported a grievance against police in 1894 while living on a reserve in Botany – the area of his first great athletic triumph. It was not taken seriously, but had an effect. He became seen as a nuisance at best.

His sporting career was ended as he was hospitalised for melancholia. Months later he was returned to Queensland at the expense of the Aborigine Protection Board. Made unwelcome on arrival and angered by his treatment, Samuels nevertheless appeared in some races, but in 1905 his descent had spiralled out of control. Threats to relatives followed and disease ravaged both him and his close family.

His first wife died of consumption in 1905, followed by two children months later. His new family fared little better, losing an infant daughter and new wife in 1911. Samuels died of pulmonary tuberculosis in October 1912. Almost a century later the achievements of the first great Aboriginal athlete of modern athletics remain virtually unknown even in the land of his birth[2].

By this time, his successor as the greatest Aboriginal athlete, Jack Marsh, who had been inspired to run by his accomplishments, had not only followed Samuels into acknowledged national and world records, but into sharp decline. Less than four years after Samuels’ death Marsh was kicked to death by two cowardly thugs, bookmaker, John Henry Hewitt and bookmaker’s clerk, Walter Stone. They were originally charged with feloniously killing Marsh, but that was reduced to manslaughter. They were acquitted thanks to Judge David Bevan blaming Marsh for his own death. It was a shameful example of victim-blaming.

It took the best part of a century to rediscover the talent and achievements of Samuels and Marsh.

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[1] This article was first published in the Magazine in 2009. We publish it again as the issues that it raises remain pertinent.

[2] For further information see Genevieve Blades, Ken Edwards, ‘Samuels, Charles (c. 1864 – 1912)’, Australian Dictionary of Biography.