Cricket trip: book honours Queenscliff’s connection with Indigenous players

A LEATHER-BOUND commemorative message book was presented to the Borough of Queenscliffe on Saturday, in recognition of the town’s role in the 154-year-old story of the Australian Aboriginal cricket team.

The Queenscliff township’s role in the story of the Indigenous team was pivotal, as the squad departed from there in October 1867 for its 1868 tour. Having been prevented by the Central Board for the Protection of Aborigines to leave Victoria, the trip from Geelong to Queenscliff was disguised as a day’s fishing.

The team then boarded the Rangatira at Queenscliff, Sydney-bound, before travelling to England where they played a mammoth 47-match tour over six months.

A commemorative B Grade cricket match between Queenscliff and Anglesea at Queenscliff Recreation Reserve on the weekend, saw two teams compete for the Mullagh Wills Foundation Trophy – in honour of the Australian Aboriginal cricket team’s departure in 1867.

A ceremony took place prior to the match, where the message book was presented to Queenscliffe mayor Cr Ross Ebbers alongside Wotjobaluk elder Richard Kennedy.

“Queenscliffe’s Aboriginal history is a significant part of what makes this community such a special place,” Cr Ebbels said.

“We’re delighted to welcome Richard Kennedy to help us commemorate an important step in the long road towards reconciliation that happened here in the Borough.”

Mr Kennedy, whose great-great-grandfather was of a member of the original Aboriginal cricket team, penned a bilingual Welcome to Country in English and Wergaia that is inscribed in the book.

The book itself has journeyed to England and then across Australia over the last four years, making its final stop at Queenscliff, before it finds a home at the Johnny Mullagh Cricket Museum in Harrow, Victoria.

“My great-great-grandfather Yangendyinanyuk (dik-a-dik) was a member of the team,” Mr Kennedy said.

“Not only did this team’s tour present an opportunity for the players to test their skills against some of the best cricketers in the world, it allowed them to share and promote their culture to an international audience.”

The Mullagh Wills Foundation is named after the Aboriginal side’s star player Johnny Mullagh (born Unaarrimin) and coach Tom Wills, and was formed to promote and recognise the tremendous achievements of the team in the late 1860s.