THE Chinese-Australian relationship with Aussie rules football and Bendigo\u2019s place in its history is set to be celebrated with a book launch next week.<\/p>\n
On Saturday 2 December, author Patrick Skene will be in town to talk about his new book Celestial Footy: The Story of Chinese Heritage Aussie Rules.<\/p>\n
The 24-chapter book details the more-than-140-year history of Chinese-Australian involvement in the sport.<\/p>\n
Skene said Bendigo has a rich history of Chinese-Australian Aussie rules participation.<\/p>\n
\u201cBendigo is ground zero of the Chinese-Australian tradition,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn 1882, a chap by the name of Henry Chin Kit ran onto the field for Ironbark verses Charing Cross. He was the first footy player.<\/p>\n
\u201cThen in the 1890s there was a Bendigo verses Eaglehawk all-Chinese game where Samuel Ah Dore who was famous for being a greyhound trainer around Bendigo.<\/p>\n
\u201cHis grandson is Russell Goldfield Jack who was a two-time Olympic torch runner, in 1956 and 2000, and in 1949 he travelled for Bendigo down to Victoria to win the Victorian Schoolboy of the year award.\u201d<\/p>\n
Released in June, the book was previously launched in New South Wales and will be toured in town as part of a Victorian showcase.<\/p>\n
Written in partnership with the AFL, and the National Foundation for Australia-China Relations, Skene said a key aim behind the book is to return a sense of belonging to the country\u2019s Chinese communities.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis came about following an article I wrote in The Guardian in 2015 on the Miners and Market Gardeners game,\u201d he said. \u201cThat went really well and a lot of people contacted me about it.<\/p>\n
\u201cThen the Chinese-Australians had taken a terrible beating over COVID with reported instances of racism up by a multiple of five. They were getting blamed for it.<\/p>\n
\u201cA report from The Lowy Institute said their sense of belonging had been eroded. I wanted to write a book that reminds them how Australian they really are, and to tell that story through footy.\u201d<\/p>\n
Special guests will include Russell Jack, and Bendigo Mooroopna Football Netball Club\u2019s Billy Wong, whose family played with the club for four generations.<\/p>\n
The free book launch event will take place at the All Seasons Resort Hotel in Strathdale from 4pm and to RSVP visit bit.ly\/47HpJn3.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
THE Chinese-Australian relationship with Aussie rules football and Bendigo\u2019s place in its history is set to be celebrated with a book launch next week. On Saturday 2 December, author Patrick Skene will be in town to talk about his new book Celestial Footy: The Story of Chinese Heritage Aussie Rules. The 24-chapter book details the […]<\/p>\n