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There weren t too many footballers better than Dad; there were few hard working mothers better than Mum; there was a Granny as good as you can get; and then, there was us a bunch of Noongar kids growing up in a small town . . . No Free Kicksis the inspiring and moving account of the experiences of one indigenous Australian family.From the hardships of extreme poverty, from living in both the bush and the city, to studying at University, Eric Hayward tells the epic saga of his family, and in doing so provides a unique snapshot of Twentieth Century Australia.Through his eyes we learn of the family s long affiliation with Australian Rules Football, and how their talent and this association made the family strong, imbuing them with pride, and becoming a powerful factor in their lives.Following in the storytelling traditions of AB Facey, No Free Kicksis an ordinary Australian life story that effortlessly claims it s right to be told. It is a story that should be read by all Australians.… (more)
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The author was born in the Gnowangerup Mission in 1945, and later studied in Perth while living in a hostel run by the Native Welfare Department and later working in government. The author’s father his uncle were stars of the South Fremantle Football Club in the 1930’s and their involvement in football spread to the wider family.
The book suggests that with little access to education or to the mainstream community, sports like running, boxing and football provided a way for Aboriginal people to mix and meet people and to hear about work. The story notes how sport allowed Aboriginal people to show that they were talented and that they could do well.
This book tells the story of Aboriginal life in the central Great Southern from the point of view of people who lived it. It’s the story about how they coped and how they contributed to the development of their country. It draws attention to how Aboriginal people have been under-recognised and undervalued and under-rewarded.